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.
The U.S. military conducted a punishing series of airstrikes against Islamic State militants on Dec. 8 following the sudden demise of the ruling Assad regime. U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, F-15E Strike Eagles, and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft conducted dozens of airstrikes against Islamic State leaders, fighters, and…