Seven Islamic State members killed in firefight with police forces in Mosul
Islamic State fighters carry their swords following a battle with Iraqi security forces. File photo
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) – Seven Islamic State members were killed Saturday in a firefight with police forces in the group’s previously proclaimed capital Mosul, a military commander was quoted as saying.
Speaking to BasNews website, Commander of Nineveh Operations Maj. Gen. Nejm al-Jabouri said that the seven IS members were trying to infiltrate into al-Shoura district in southern Mosul, prompting security forces to clash with them.
“The clashes between the two sides left seven IS militants dead,” al-Jabouri said, adding that a manhunt was launched in search of the other infiltrators.
Earlier in the day, two Islamic State members wearing badges of the pro-government Popular Mobilization Forces were arrested inside a house in al-Shohada district in southern Fallujah.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced in July 2017 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.
A government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and a U.S.-led international coalition, has been fighting the Islamic State group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.
Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December with the help of a US-led alliance, having retaken all the territory captured by the extremists in 2014 and 2015.
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.