Iraqi F16 jets destroy three Islamic State tunnels in Makhoul Mount
Iraqi F16 fighter jet. Archival photo.
Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – The Iraqi Air Force destroyed on Tuesday three tunnels of the Islamic State group in Makhoul Mount, north of Baghdad, the Iraqi Security Media Council said.
“F16 fighter jets raided three tunnels in Makhoul Mount that were used by Islamic State members to target security forces using mortar shells,” the center said a statement, a copy of which was obtained by Iraqi website Alghad Press.
According to the statement, the air raid “left the three tunnels completely destroyed.”
Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
The surge in violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted in over five million internally displaced persons across Iraq and left more than 11 million in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared last 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.