Islamic State sniper shoots Iraqi soldier dead near Diyala checkpoint
An Islamic State fighter carries his weapon in a fight against Iraqi troops
Diyala (IraqiNews.com) – An Islamic State sniper shot on Wednesday an Iraqi soldier dead near a security checkpoint northeast of Baqubah, a security source from Diyala province was quoted as saying.
Speaking to Baghdad Today news agency, the source said that the soldier was on duty near a checkpoint on the outskirts of Abu Karma village, 25km northeast of Baqubah, when he was shot dead.
According to the source, the security forces launched a manhunt at the nearby gardens in search of the IS sniper.
Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
The surge in violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted in over five million internally displaced persons across Iraq and left more than 11 million in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The Islamic State group appeared on the international scene in 2014 when it seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring the establishment of an Islamic “caliphate” from Mosul city. Later on, the group has become notorious for its brutality, including mass killings, abductions and beheadings, prompting the U.S. to lead an international coalition to destroy it.