Thirteen Islamic State militants killed sneaking into southern Mosul village
Members of Iraqi Federal Police carry their weapon at the frontline during a battle with Islamic State militants in western Mosul, Iraq June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi police killed thirteen Islamic State militants who were sneaking into a village south of Mosul as security forces continue to comb the recaptured city.
Cap. Amir Watheq, from Nineveh police service, told BasNews website that the militants were sneaking into al-Houd village in Qayyara, south of Mosul, coming from the eastern side of the city of Shirqat, Salahuddin.
He said security forces exchanged fire with the militants after they attacked the troops. Thirteen militants weer killed and three policemen were wounded, he added.
Iraqi government forces continue to comb Mosul for hidden Islamic State cells since Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared that the city became under troops’ control early July. Islamic State members have launched intermittent attacks against security forces and civilians over the past few weeks.
The Iraqi Joint Operations Command, which had led the campaign against IS in Mosul, said IS had lost more than 25.000 of its fighters in more than eight months of fighting. The government plans to launch further offensives to retake a few remaining havens in Nineveh, Kirkuk, Anbar and Salahuddin provinces.