Two children, three Islamic State militants killed in Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Two female children and three Islamic State militants were killed on Tuesday in south and west of Mosul, a security source said.

“Two children were killed, while two others were wounded as an explosive from the war remnants exploded in Imam Gharbi village, Qayyarah, south of Mosul,” the source told Shafaq News.

In related news, the source said, “al-hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces), backed by army jets, repulsed an infiltration attempt by IS, near Tal Sufuq, west of Mosul, on borders between Iraq and Syria. Three IS militants were killed.”

In July, Iraqi forces took over the village, which was re-invaded by the militant group just before the government declared victory over the group in the city. Later on July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25000 militants were killed throughout the campaign, which started in October.

Since the city was declared free, security troops continue to comb western Mosul areas for hidden IS cells.

Despite declaring the victory over IS there in the city, observers say IS is believed to constitute a security threat even after the group’s defeat at its main havens across Iraqi provinces. Other IS havens in Anbar, Kirkuk and Salahuddin are expected to be targeted by the iraqi government soon.