Twelve IS militants killed in coalition airstrikes southwest of Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Twelve Islamic State militants, including cameramen of the group’s media arm, were killed in an airstrike in southwest of Kirkuk, a local source said.

Speaking to AlSumaria News on Tuesday, the source said, “U.S.-led Coalition shelled, today, an IS location in Riyadh in Hawija, southwestern Kirkuk.”

“As per preliminary information, around twelve militants, including four cameramen and editors of Amaq agency, were killed,” the source, who asked to be anonymous, added.

The air raid, according to the source, destroyed tactic units of the group.

Hawija and other neighboring regions, west of Kirkuk, have been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. The group executed dozens of civilians and security members there, forcing thousands to flee homes.

Previously this month, news reports said 100,000 civilians are besieged in Hawija by the militant group, that could use them as human shields during the battle.

Further reinforcements from the Federal Police were sent earlier this month from Baghdad to the town, as the military command declared last week, the end of operations in Tal Afar, the militants’ last haven west of Nineveh, and the approach of the launch of offensives for Hawija.

Spokesperson of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command Yehia Rasool said, last week, there were 2000 IS militants inside Hawija.