Thomson ReutersSmoke and flames rise over a hill near the Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrikeWASHINGTON (Reuters) - US-led air strikes against ISIS in Iraq have killed three of the militant group's top leaders, the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
In an interview with the newspaper, US General Martin Dempsey said the senior leaders were killed in recent weeks as part of expanding effort with partner nations to combat the militants.
"These are high-value targets, senior leadership," Dempsey said.
ISIS has suffered the loss of several top-level figures, including leader Ayad al-Baghdadi's top aide, since US-led airstrikes against the group began in August. But as the WSJ notes, the group has been able to effectively replace its fallen leadership and it isn't expected that this latest development will be decisive to the anti-ISIS campaign's outcome.
Meanwhile, a mass grave of over 200 of ISIS victims was found in eastern Syria this week, while frequent coalition airstrikes have been aiding a Kurdish offensive aimed at retaking Sinjar and Zumar in Iraq's northeast.
(Reporting by Washington Newsroom; Editing by Bill Trott)