Army airstrike kills two IS militants, northeastern Diyala: Commander

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Two Islamic State militants were killed, while four rest houses were destroyed in an air raid launched, northeast of Diyala, the Dijla Operations Command announced.

“Aerial bombardment carried out by Iraqi fighter jets targeted four rest houses of IS, destroying them in Wadi Thilab, in Neft Khana, northeast of Diyala,” Maj. Gen. Mazhar al-Azzawi told Alghad Press on Sunday.

“The shelling left two militants, on a motorbike, killed,” Azzawi added.

Naft Khana is considered a pivotal region in Diyala for its strategic location, being near to main roads, in addition to being geographically-connected to Hamreen basin.

Last week, Iraqi troops regained full control on Hamreen mountains that stretch out between Diyala and Kirkuk provinces, retaking areas between Zgheitoun bridge reaching until al-Fatha bridge, an area that stretches out 45 kilometers with depth of 15 kilometers.

Iraqi troops managed to retake several IS strongholds including Mosul and Tal Afar in Nineveh, Hawija in Kirkuk and Annah in Anbar. Only Qaim and neighboring Rawa currently remain in IS grip.

In a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a weekly press briefing on Tuesday that 2017 would witness the end of Islamic State’s existence in Iraq.