52 IS militants killed while combing retaken areas in Salahuddin: Ministry
Members of Iraqi Federal Police carry their weapon at the frontline during a battle with Islamic State militants in western Mosul, Iraq June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro
During a weekly press conference, Brig.Gen. Saad Maan, spokesperson of the ministry, said, “Federal Police troops accomplished purging of the eastern coast of Shirqat from IS remnants and sleeper cells, inflicting huge losses in lives and equipments on the enemy. 52 militants were killed, while two booby-trapped vehicles and four headquarters were destroyed.
Troops, “seized six weapons of different kinds and confiscated four rest houses, in addition to detonating 26 bombs,” Maan said, adding that 66 villages were liberated.
Federal Police announced, earlier this week, liberation of eastern Shirqat, the group’s holdout in north of Salahuddin.
225 militants had been killed since the launch of operations in Shirqat, Jawdat previously announced.
Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command announced launch of first phase of operations to liberate Hawija and western Shirqat.
The Iraqi army said in September its forces recaptured the western coast of Shirqat, located south of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris river, after being surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and the pro-government Shi’ite militias.