Iraqi army destroys six Islamic State tunnels in Salahuddin
Paramilitary fighters and military vehicles are seen during a military operation to retake positions held by Islamic State militants, on the outskirts of Muqdadiyah in Diyala province, north of Baghdad January 25, 2015. Picture taken January 25, 2015. REUTERS
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi army destroyed on Tuesday six Islamic State tunnels in the island of Siniya in the country’s northern province of Salahuddin.
“Iraqi warplanes, in coordination with the Salahuddin operations command, destroyed six tunnels used by the (IS) terrorists in the Siniya Island in Salahuddin,” Iraqi website Baghdad Today quoted the Security Media Center as saying.
According to the center, “the troops found 10 explosive charges, foodstuffs and an electronic generator inside the tunnels.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared in December final victory over Islamic State three years after the militant group captured about a third of Iraq’s territory.
Abadi’s announcement came two days after Russia announced a similar victory over Islamic State militants in neighboring Syria. Abadi declared Dec. 10 an annual national holiday on this occasion.
Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.