Airstrikes by Iraqi jets kill 15 IS members in Salahuddin
Smoke billows from the Islamic State militants positions after an artillery attack by Iraqi forces. REUTERS/Erik De Castro
“Army jets launched airstrikes on IS havens in al-Mayta and al-Boujumaa villages in Mutaibija,” the source told Baghdad Today.
The shelling, according to the source, “left four rest houses and five vehicles destroyed. More than fifteen members were killed.”
Iraqi jets carried out similar air raids targeting IS convoy and a rest house in Mutaibija, making these attacks the third in two days.
Occasional attacks have been witnessed in Mutaibija by Islamic State against government and paramilitary troops deployments since Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and PMUs, launched a major offensive to retake areas occupied by IS since 2014.
Pivotal regions that link between each of Diyala, Salahuddin and Kirkuk, are still held by the militants which poses threats to the liberated regions. Iraqi troops are urged to prevent the militants infiltration between Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces, especially the regions stretching along Hamreen mountains and Al-Azeem town.
It’s expected that the Iraqi government will head towards liberating other IS strongholds across Iraq, including in Salahuddin.