Iraqi army destroys two Islamic State hotbeds in Diyala

Diyala (Iraqinews.com) – The Iraqi army destroyed on Wednesday two Islamic State hotbeds during a military operation in Diyala, the Military Intelligence Directorate was quoted as saying.

In a press release, a copy of which was obtained by Baghdad Today, the directorate said its troops destroyed two terrorist hideouts and an explosive-laden vehicle owned by Islamic State during a military operation in al-Nada area, in northeastern Diyala.

“The troops also destroyed a booby-trapped motorbike and found an RBG7 launcher, as well as a number grenades and rockets that were planned to be used by Islamic State militants,” the statement read.

“Iraqi security forces will continue to assume their duties on a daily basis to track down Islamic State terrorists and purge all Iraqi territories from their war leftovers,” the statement concluded.

In January 2015, Iraqi forces announced liberation of Diyala province from Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The province has seen months of fighting between Iraqi troops and IS militants especially in the Jalawla and Saadiyah areas in the province’s north and areas near the town of Muqdadiyah.

In November, Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence earlier with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.