U.S.-led coalition kills 18 Islamic State leaders in 30 days

By Jamie McIntyre

Published September 29, 2016 4:44pm ET

U.S.-led coalition kills 18 Islamic State leaders in 30 days — There is still no timetable for when the Mosul offensive will begin, but Pentagon officials say all the pieces will be in place and preparation complete within weeks. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson via AP) | 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson

The U.S.-led coalition has killed 18 Islamic State leaders in Iraq and Syria over the past 30 days, including 13 leaders in and around Mosul.

Col. John Dorrian, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said the focus on eliminating Islamic State leadership is an effort to “shape the battlefield” by eliminating key enemy leaders, thereby disrupting and degrading their intelligence, military operations, communication and finance networks.