Baghdad : , Five militants belonging to the Islamic State (IS), were killed by the Iraqi security forces during three days of security operations in Diyala’s eastern Province.Yahia Rasoul (Speaker of the Commander in Chief of Iraqi Forces) stated Wednesday that Iraqi forces launched an operation in Himreen Mountain range, north of Baquba provincial capital, on Sunday.This was nearly 65km northeast of Baghdad.
According to the statement, troops discovered 23 IS hiding places and killed five militants.They also seized many weapons and equipment.The Iraqi warplanes carried out 14 airstrikes against IS positions in mountainous areas.
Lt.Colonel Raad Al-Shammari, Diyala Operations Command, told Xinhua one of their goals was to find IS militants that kidnapped Colonel Yasser Al-Jourani (Head of a Baghdad passport office), and three of their friends while they were hunting in a remote area of Diyala.
Al-Shammari stated that two bodies were found by the Iraqi forces during the operation, which was done with al-Jourani’s friends.The third body is still missing according to Xinhua news agency.
In a separate statement, Rasoul also confirmed that al-Jourani had been killed by IS militants.The IS group posted pictures and a statement on the internet claiming that al-Jourani had been executed.
According to an Iraqi Army statement, the Iraqi Army stated that the Iraqi Security Forces launched an offensive on December 26th, supported by Iraqi aircraft, with the goal of hunting down IS militants, burning their hideouts, and protecting the Himreen mountain range.
The IS militants in Iraq have increased their attacks on security forces in Iraqi provinces they previously controlled over the last few months.
This has left many people dead or wounded.
Since the defeat of IS by Iraqi forces in 2017, security in Iraq is improving.
The IS remnants are now confined to urban centers, deserts and remote areas and carry out guerilla attacks on civilians and security forces.
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