Iraqi troops kill three Islamic State militants in Salahuddin
An Iraqi solider waves the “V” victory sign following a great triumph over the Islamic State group
Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) – A security source said on Tuesday that three Islamic State militants were killed last night as they were trying to sneak into al-Daur district in Salahuddin.
Speaking to Al-Watan Newspaper, the source said that a force from the 21st brigade of the paramilitary Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) set an ambush last night for a group of IS militants, who were trying to infiltrate into al-Daur district in order to target security premises and houses there.
According to the source, the troops managed to kill three of the infiltrators while two others fled the scene into an unknown location.
None of the pro-government fighters were either killed or wounded in the operation, said the source.
IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.
Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.