US Central Command on Monday denied ISIS claims that it had shot down a US aircraft near Anbar, Iraq, saying American and coalition aircraft have been accounted for. CENTCOM released a statement on Twitter shortly after the ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency reported that a US aircraft had been shot down and its crew killed, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. Amaq released the statement the same day it released ISIS’ claims of responsibility for a bombing in Germany and a suicide bombing in Iraq. On July 24, US and coalition aircraft flew 20 sorties in Iraq and Syria targeting ISIS, including multiple strikes targeting the ISIS-held city of Mosul in Anbar Province, according to CENTCOM.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.