Three IS militants killed in attempt to sneak into north of Salahuddin

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Three Islamic State militants were killed during attempt to sneak into north of Salahuddin, the military media reported.

In a brief statement issued on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said, “three IS attackers, two of whom were wearing suicide belts, were killed by Salahuddin Operations Command as they attempted to infiltrate into Makhoul mountains to attack troops there.”

Earlier this month, Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yaralla, commander of Hawija Operations, announced full control on Makhoul mountains.

In late September, Federal Police announced liberation of the eastern side of Shirqat town, north of the province, killing more than 200 militants in the operations.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command declared in September the launch of first phase of operations to liberate Hawija and eastern Shirqat, located north of Salahuddin.

The Iraqi army said in September 2016 its forces recaptured the western coast of Shirqat, located south of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris river, after being surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and the pro-government Shi’ite militias.

Having recaptured Hawija in Kirkuk, Mosul and Tal Afar in Nineveh and Annah town in Anbar, Iraqi troops still have only western Anbar’s towns of Rawa and Qaim remain under the militant’s control.