17 Islamic State members killed in a week within operations in Diyala
Paramilitary fighters and military vehicles are seen during a military operation to retake positions held by Islamic State militants, on the outskirts of Muqdadiyah in Diyala province, north of Baghdad January 25, 2015. Picture taken January 25, 2015. REUTERS
“Security forces, backed by al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) carried out several operations over the past seven days to follow IS cells in several regions across Diyala,” Sadeq al-Husseini, head of the committee, told Alghad Press on Sunday.
“The operations left 17 IS members, including a prominent leader at the so-called Diyala State,” Husseini added. “The group lost most of its militants and leaders in Diyala.”
On Thursday, Husseini said Counter-Terrorism Service managed to kill the Islamic State’s so-called Diyala State’s head (Wali), known as Abu Ayed, in Hamreen mountains.
In December, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.
Thousands of IS militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition, was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group.
Since then, forces took back the group’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija, and each of Annah, Rawa and Qaim in Anbar.
Nearly five million people have been displaced since the launch of the offensives to recapture occupied cities.