Policeman killed, seven Islamic State member arrested in attack, northwest of Mosul

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) A policeman was killed, while seven Islamic State members were arrested during an attack by the militant group, northwest of Mosul, a security source from Nineveh said on Thursday.

“Islamic State members attacked a checkpoint for Federal Police and managed to kill a policeman,” Cap. Mortada Ahmed told BasNews. “Seven militants were arrested before running away.”

Security troops cordoned off Mafraq al-Kesk region, where the attack took place and carried out an operation in search for the remnants of Islamic State members.

In related news, another security source from Nineveh police said Moyasser Rashid, mayor of Oyounat village was killed in an armed attack.

“Unidentified gunmen opened fire against him, leaving him killed before running away,” Cap. Amir Wathiq told BasNews.

Thousands of Islamic State 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, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.