Four army personnel killed in clashes with IS militants in Iraq’s Mosul
Security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State during sand storm in Ramadi. (AP Photo)
Nineveh (Iraqinews.com) – Four Iraqi army personnel were killed in clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants in southeastern Mosul, a security source was quoted as saying Sunday.
Speaking to Basnews website, the source said, “IS militants have attacked army troops while taking over security from al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) at al-Namroud district in southern Mosul.”
“Four army personnel were killed in the face-off,” the source said, adding that the attackers fled the scene to an unknown location immediately after the shooting.
Security forces launched a manhunt in search of the assailants, the source pointed out.
On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced liberation of the second largest Iraqi city of Mosul from IS militants, who had captured it in 2014. More than 25,000 militants were killed throughout the campaign, which started in October 2016.
Since the city was declared free, security troops continue to comb Mosul areas for hidden IS cells. Despite the victory over IS in the city, observers say Islamic State is believed to constitute a security threat even after the group’s defeat at its main havens across Iraqi provinces.
Mosul has always been an easy target for Islamic State militants, who seek to take revenge from Iraqi security forces after they lost the city earlier.