Federal Police kill four IS militants hiding in house, south of Mosul
A sniper of the Iraqi Federal Police takes his position at a destroyed builiding near Islamic State fighters’ positions at Bab al Jadid district in the old city of Mosul, Iraq, March 27, 2017. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
Speaking to Shafaq News, the source said Federal Police troops managed to kill four IS members after being besieged inside an empty house in Qayyarah, south of Mosul.
The four militants, according to the source, infiltrated earlier on the day to the region. They were attempted to plant seven bombs, that were in their possession, to target security troops there.
On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25000 militants were killed throughout the campaign, which started in October.
Since the city was declared free, security troops continue to comb western Mosul areas for hidden IS cells.
Despite declaring the victory over IS there in the city, observers say IS is believed to constitute a security threat even after the group’s defeat at its main havens across Iraqi provinces.
Having recaptured Hawija in Kirkuk, Mosul and Tal Afar in Nineveh and Annah town in Anbar, Iraqi troops still have only western Anbar’s towns of Rawa and Qaim remain under the militant’s control.