Eight Islamic State militants killed in Hawija: commander
IS militant’s dead body.
Hawija (IraqiNews.com) Eight Islamic State suicide bombers were killed by Iraqi security forces on Monday in Kikruk, the head of the army operations was quoted saying.
Fadhel Omran, head of the Kirkuk Operations, told Alsumaria News that troops killed eight IS members vested with explosive belts at a hideout in Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk. He said troops have also run into an explosives depot belonging to the group in Akoula village.
The Iraqi government declared the recapture of Hawija from IS militants early October. An Iraqi, U.S.-backed campaign has managed, since October 2016, to recapture Islamic State’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Hawija and western Anbar’s town of Annah.
IS members are currently cornered in Anbar’s Qaim and Rawa, on the borders with Syria.