2015 Hawija prison raid

Joint American-Kurdish special forces operation in Iraq yes 2015 Hawija prison raid Hawija, Iraq the broader US-led intervention in Iraq against ISIL and Operation Inherent Resolve in the War in Iraq (2013–2017) Iraqi Kurdistan 180px The prison's location within Iraq, part of the disputed regions, and outside the Kurdistan Region 35.38775058407929 N 43.77349141047333 E region:IQ outline,title * U.S.-Kurdish victory 70 hostages freed Prison destroyed United States Kurdistan Region Islamic State 22 October 2015 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 20px Military of the Islamic State 20px JSOC 13px Delta Force 13px 160th SOAR(A) 20px KRSC 20px Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) 30 Delta Force operators 48 CTD operators 3 CH-47 Chinooks 2-3 UH-60 Black Hawks (CAS) 2 F-15E Strike Eagle Surveillance Drones Unknown 1 U.S. service member killed 3-4 CTD operators injured 20 ISIS terrorists killed 6 ISIS terrorists detained Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler Unknown The 2015 Hawija prison raid or Hawija operation was a joint special operations mission carried out by the U.S. Army's Delta Force, 160th SOAR(A)Atlamazoglou Stavros 2019-11-01 'On me!' -- Watch Delta shooters and Kurdish SOF raid ISIS compound https://sofrep.com/news/on-me-watch-delta-shooters-and-kurdish-sof-raid-isis-compound/ 2026-01-05 SOFREP en-US and the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Hawija, Iraq, with the objective of rescuing prisoners held by the Islamic State (ISIS).Roggio Bill 2015-10-23 US Special Forces, Kurdish troops raid Islamic State prison in Iraq https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/10/us-special-forces-kurdish-troops-raid-islamic-state-prison-in-iraq.php 2025-09-19 FDD's Long War Journal en-US The raid is believed to be the first to be launched inside Iraq since US troops returned to the country following the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq in 2007–2011.Hawramy Fazel Siddiqui Sabrina Chulov Martin 2015-10-22 US forces rescue Iraqi hostages facing 'imminent execution' by Isis https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/22/us-special-forces-free-kurdish-hostages-isis-iraq 2025-09-19 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 Background Earlier in May 2014, U.S. special operations forces had conducted at least one other mission in the Iraq–Syria theater, despite Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook stating that the U.S. military was 'not in an active combat mission' in the region. U.S. service members of Operation Inherent Resolve were only supposed to "advise, train and assist" local forces. On 21 October, security sources within the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) reported that ISIS militants were preparing to execute captured Peshmerga fighters at a school, made up of two buildings, which was repurposed to a heavily fortified prison, 7 km (4.34 miles) north of Hawija and 15 km (9 miles) west of the city of Kirkuk. This included reports of increased militant activity in the area and the digging of mass graves, which indicated 'imminent execution' of the hostages. Kurdish intelligence also suggested that the compound in question was home to 20 ISIS commanders. In response, officials from the KRG requested U.S. assistance for an urgent military operation to rescue the hostages. U.S. forces agreed to the request, initially planning only to transport the Kurdish troops to the location.Press Associated 2015-10-25 Iraq rescue: video shows US prison raid freeing 70 hostages from Isis https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/25/video-released-us-kurdish-rescue-operation-iraq-isis-hawija 2025-09-19 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 Inside the ISIS Prison Raid That Left US Service Member Dead https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/inside-isis-prison-raid-left-us-service-member/story?id=34649433 2025-09-19 ABC News en Operation At 4:00 a.m. local time on 22 October, Delta Force and CTD operators launched an air assault on the prison from their staging area at Erbil International Airport, with the 160th SOAR(A) providing transport for the task force. 3 CH-47 Chinook helicopters transported, the nearly 80 men strong force, to the area surrounding the prison complex, while 2 UH-60 Black Hawks provided close air support through machine gun fire. Shortly after, roads and bridges leading to the area had been bombed by coalition fighter jets, to cut off any potential reinforcements. The assault was being monitored by U.S. surveillance drones.Wolff Scott 2015-11-17 How Air Support Impacted the Delta Force Hostage Rescue Mission in Hawija, Iraq https://sofrep.com/news/air-support-impacted-delta-force-hostage-rescue-mission-hawija-iraq/ 2026-01-03 SOFREP en-US Although the plan called for the Kurds to do the fighting, Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, who commanded the raid, and his unit of Delta Force operators, sprang into action to actively support the operation, after the CTD was unable to blow up the prison's wall and came under heavy fire. The U.S.-Kurdish task force split up into two teams, one which was led by Wheeler and another team led by Sgt. Thomas Payne. 'One of the bravest': Trump presents Medal of Honor to soldier for his heroics in ISIS-hostage rescue https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/one-of-the-bravest-trump-presents-medal-of-honor-to-soldier-for-his-heroics-in-isis-hostage-rescue-1.644600 2025-09-19 Stars and Stripes en Wheeler's unit entered the prison courtyard, where he provided covering fire that enabled the force to advance to the 1st Main Building. In doing so, he was mortally wounded by small-arms fire coming from barricaded positions, and Wheeler's group was repelled in its attempts to enter the building.Torbati Yeganeh 2015-10-23 U.S. soldier killed in Iraq raid rushed into firefight: Carter https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-rescue-idUSKCN0SH1SD20151023 2016-11-05 ReutersSiemaszko Corky October 23, 2015 Hero killed in ISIS raid Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, first U.S. soldier to die in combat against Islamic State http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/joshua-wheeler-identified-soldier-killed-isis-raid-article-1.2408459 October 24, 2015 New York Daily NewsSchwartz Felicia October 23, 2015 U.S. Identifies American Killed in Iraq Raid as Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-identifies-american-killed-in-iraq-raid-as-master-sgt-joshua-wheeler-1445609315 October 24, 2015 Wall Street Journal The second task force, led by Payne, climbed over the compound walls and moved inside the 2nd Main Building where they were met by only light-resistance, and managed to rescue around 36 hostages. Later they moved onto the roof of the 1st Main Building to assist Wheeler's group, from where they engaged ISIS fighters inside of it. The elevated position drew heavy fire, and forced several ISIS militants to detonate their suicide vests.2020-09-03 Army Ranger to receive Medal of Honor for hostage rescue mission https://www.army.mil/article/237811/army_ranger_to_receive_medal_of_honor_for_hostage_rescue_mission 2025-09-19 www.army.mil en Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16C Fighting Falcons, and several armed unmanned aerial vehicles conducted airstrikes in surrounding areas, aimed at neutralizing ISIS elements, confusing them, and disrupting their movements. Thomas Payne's group, which went off of the building's roof, began to storm it through its main entrance on the ground, while it was ablaze, and inspired the rest of the rescue force to join them. Inside the 1st Main Building, and under heavy fire, the task force rescued the remaining hostages and escorted them out of the prison back to the helicopters. One of the hostages was dragged by Payne himself as he froze in place, being overwhelmed with the situation. To the surprise of those involved, none of the hostages were Peshmergas or Kurdish; instead, the rescued were primarily Iraqi Arabs, including former members of the Iraqi Security Forces and individuals whom ISIS had accused of spying.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwYYf2xc2Ys Joint Delta Force-Kurdish Special Forces Prison Raid October 2015 2023-05-26 Liveth For Evermore 2025-09-19 YouTube2015-10-22 US-Iraqi rescue operation 'foils IS mass execution' https://www.bbc.com/news/34607471 2025-09-19 BBC News en-GB In the two-hour long operation 20 ISIS militans were killed, six detained, two of which were considered 'leaders', one U.S. service member was killed, three to four CTD operators were injured and 70 hostages rescued.Kurdistan Region Security Council Statement - Special Operation in Hawija rescues 69 hostages http://cabinet.gov.krd/a/d.aspx?s=040000&l=12&a=53826 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20171018190812/http://cabinet.gov.krd/a/d.aspx?s=040000&l=12&a=53826 18 October 2017 18 October 2017 Kurdistan Region Security Council 2015-10-25 Video Shows Coalition Strike Destroying ISIS Prison Where U.S. Commando Died https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/video-shows-coalition-strike-destroying-isis-prison-where-u-s-n451231 2025-09-19 NBC News en26 October 2015 ISIS leaders captured in Hawija prison hold group's secrets, plans https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/26102015 2025-09-18 Rudaw Video footage, which was later released by the KRG, showed what happened when the special forces went inside one of the buildings. A Kurdish operator's helmet camera showed his weapon pointed toward a barred window illuminated by a glow, possibly from a fire. Other scenes depicted soldiers moving through dark offices with large black-and-white ISIS flags at one end. In another sequence, four men in robes with their hands on their heads were escorted through a doorway and searched. The operator wearing the body camera was seen emptying the men's shirt pockets, patting them down, and then moving them quickly along the hallway. Delta Force operators speaking English were audible on the footage, with one instructing, "Hold that guy [hostage] there!".Gray Jethro 2015-10-25 New video shows scenes from raid to free hostages from ISIS https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/25/middleeast/iraq-us-kurds-hostage-raid 2025-09-19 CNN en The compound was bombed and completely destroyed by F-15E Strike Eagle jets after the helicopters evacuated the task force and the hostages.25 October 2015 Oct. 25: Airstrike Video: Coalition destroys ISIL prison after hostage rescue https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/903969/oct-25-airstrike-video-coalition-destroys-isil-prison-after-hostage-rescue/ 19 September 2025 CENTCOM Aftermath Wheeler was the first U.S. soldier to die in combat against the Islamic State. He was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously.Press Associated 2015-10-23 US soldier killed in Iraq rescue operation identified as Joshua L Wheeler https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/23/us-soldier-killed-in-iraq-rescue-operation-identified 2025-09-19 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 The U.S. Defense secretary at the time, Ash Carter, applauded Wheeler as a hero, saying "his response enabled the mission to succeed." His death sparked discussions about the nature of U.S. involvement in the fight against ISIS. In response Carter said that "the plan was not for the U.S. advise-and-assist and accompanying forces to enter the compound or be involved in the firefight," but that "[Wheeler] is someone who saw the team that he was advising and assisting coming under attack, and he made it possible for them to be effective, and in doing that, lost his own life."Crawford Jamie 2015-10-23 Is the U.S. back in combat in Iraq? CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/23/politics/iraq-combat-hostage-raid-wheeler 2025-09-19 CNN en Carter said the U.S. and its Kurdish partners collected valuable intelligence at the scene, including documents and electronics. This, he said, shows "the great value of raids of this kind," and that he expects more operations of this type to happen.Carter: Soldier heroically entered Kurdish-IS firefight http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d7dc988b84734398a518e98f763dde9f/coalition-identifies-us-commando-killed-iraqi-raid dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012038/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d7dc988b84734398a518e98f763dde9f/coalition-identifies-us-commando-killed-iraqi-raid 5 March 2016 18 October 2017 Reuters The KRSC considered the Hawija operation to be the "single most significant joint rescue operation based out of the Kurdistan region conducted deep in ISIS territory" to date. It also offered its "heartfelt condolences" to the family and friends of Joshua Wheeler and expressed its gratefulness to the "counterterrorism professionals" for their bravery. The central government in Baghdad did not know the operation was taking place until "they started receiving phone calls from reporters."23 October 2015 Iraqi hostages freed from ISIL in US-Kurdish raid https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/23/iraqi-hostages-freed-from-isil-in-us-kurdish-raid 2025-09-19 Al Jazeera en On 11 September 2020, Thomas Payne, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that day by President Donald Trump, becoming the first living Delta Force recipient of the Medal of Honor and the first Medal of Honor recipient for Operation Inherent Resolve.Madhani Aamer Colvin Jill 2020-09-11 Trump bestows Medal of Honor on soldier for hostage rescue in Iraq https://abc11.com/6419099/ 2020-09-11 ABC 11 en Associated Press See also List of operations conducted by Delta Force References External links Hawija rescue operation led by Kurdistan's Counter Terrorism force on YouTube Category:October 2015 in Iraq Category:Delta Force Category:Operations involving special operations forces of the United States Category:Military operations of the Iraqi Civil War in 2015 Category:Military operations of the War in Iraq (2013–2017) involving the Peshmerga Category:2015 in Iraqi Kurdistan Category:Military operations of the War in Iraq (2013–2017) involving the Islamic State