Two Islamic State members killed as paramilitaries repulse attack in Salahuddin
Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) Two Islamic State militants were killed as the pro-government paramilitary troops repulsed an attack in Salahuddin province, SNG website reported on Thursday.
“Troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) managed, today, to foil an attack by Islamic State members near Biji town, north of Salahuddin,” a security source said.
PMFs, according to the source, “managed to kill two IS members while repulsing the attack.”
Thousands of IS militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition, was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group.
In December, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members. However, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.
A total of 104 Iraqi civilians and policemen were killed, while 177 others were injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in March, according to casualty figures by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
As many as 3,298 civilians were killed and 4,781 others were wounded in 2017, excluding Anbar civilian casualty figures for November and December, which are not available, UNAMI said in a report in December.
The war against IS has displaced at least five million people.