Five IS members killed in airstrikes on Salahuddin-Diyala borders
Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Five Islamic State militants were killed in airstrikes launched at the borders between Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, officials said.
Speaking to AlSumaria News, Mohamed Daifan al-Ebeidi, head of Udhaim provincial council, said, “a fighter jet of the army followed an armed IS cell, composed of three militants, in hills located near al-BuJumaa region, on borders between Diyala and Salahuddin. All of them were killed.”
“The presence of IS members on the borders between Salahuddin and Diyala still represents a security challenge,” Ebeidi added.
Meanwhile, Abdul Khaleq al-Azzawi, member of Diyala provincial council, said two militants were killed as aerial shelling targeted a vehicle on the borders between the two provinces.
“The army jets shelled a vehicle for IS that went near from the joint security checkpoints at al-Mayta region, near the borders between Diyala and Salahuddin, which left two IS members killed,” Azzawi told AlSumaria News.
“Al-Mayta is one of the regions, where IS still exists,” he added.
Earlier on the day, the Dijla Operations Command announced launching a wide-scale operation in Hawi al-Udhaim region, north of Diyala.
Last week, al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) managed to repel an attack launched by IS to target a checkpoint in al-Bou Eissa village, north of Udhaim, in Diyala. The militants ran away as the troops foiled their attempt.