Iraqi jets shelling kills five Islamic State leaders northeast of Diyala

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Five Islamic State leaders were killed on Sunday as Iraqi fighter jets bombarded one of the group’s locations in northeast of Diyala, a military source said.

“A fighter jet targeted on Sunday evening an IS location in Basateen al-Makheisa region, northeast of Diyala,” Lt.Ghassan al-Ebeidi, of the Iraqi army said in press remarks.

“The shelling left five IS leaders killed,” he added.

Last week, five militants were killed in an airstrike launched by Iraqi jets in Wadi Thilab, located in Neft Khana basin, northeast of Diyala.

Attacks launched by Islamic State militants against security troops, the pro-government forces and civilians surged over the past few weeks in northeast of Diyala, which urge the Iraqi forces to prevent the militants infiltration between Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces, especially the regions stretching along Hamreen mountains and Al-Azeem town.

IS holds pivotal regions that link between each of Diyala, Salahuddin and Kirkuk, posing threats to the liberated regions.

Government and military commanders are expected to wage operations at other IS havens across the country, including Diyala.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.