Six paramilitary personnel killed in armed attack against checkpoint in Diyala

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Six paramilitary personnel were killed as an armed attack targeted a security checkpoint in northeast of Baquba, a local source from Diyala said on Monday.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said, “group of gunmen attacked a security checkpoint in al-Hafayer region, south of Hamreen, leaving six personnel of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces). The attackers escaped to unknown destination,” the source told AlSumaria News.

“Security personnel transferred the victims to forensic medicine department. Precautionary measures were taken,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.

Armed attacks are launched every now and then by the remnants of Islamic State members against some checkpoints in Diyala, however, security services manage to repulse the attacks, inflicting huge losses in lives and equipments against the enemy.

In December, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

A total of 115 Iraqi civilians, excluding policemen, were killed and another 250 injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in January 2018, according to casualty figures recorded by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

As many as 3,298 civilians were killed and 4,781 others were wounded in 2017, excluding Anbar civilian casualty figures for November and December, which are not available, UNAMI said in a report in December.