American forces have killed three high-ranking Islamic State leaders in Iraq in recent weeks, according to Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dempsey told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday that the trio of key ISIS figures was targeted in airstrikes as part of ramped-up efforts to push back on the militant group’s strongholds in the region:

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the strikes that killed the military leaders were designed to hamper Islamic State’s ability to conduct attacks, supply fighters and finance operations.

“It is disruptive to their planning and command and control,” Gen. Dempsey said. “These are high-value targets, senior leadership.”

Defense officials said the operations to kill senior and midlevel Islamic State commanders are beginning to weaken the group’s leadership structure in Iraq.

However, whether these strikes will weaken ISIS in the long term remains to be seen, as the organization’s ranks continue to grow and leaders can be replaced.

–Posted by Kasia Anderson

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#airstrike#daesh#iraq#isis#islamic state#joint chiefs of staff#martin dempsey#pentagon#syria#terrorism