Islamic State leader, two companions killed in airstrike in Diyala
Airstrike by the US-led international coalition aircraft.
Speaking to AlSumaria News, Sadeq al-Husseini, head of the security committee of Diyala provincial council, said, “an airstrike targeted a rest house near Hamreen lake, leaving a senior leader killed and two companions killed. The rest house, located underground, was destroyed.”
“Shelling the rest house was based on intelligence information that accurately located it,” Husseini said. “Aerial bombardment helped in 2017 in killing more than fifty IS members, including prominent leaders, especially in al-Zour basin, al-Waqf and Neft Khana,” Husseini added.
According to security sources, air force carried out several airstrikes that targeted Islamic State pockets in Diyala over the past few months.
In December, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.
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.
Since then, forces took back the group’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija, and each of Annah, Rawa and Qaim in Anbar.
Nearly five million people have been displaced since the launch of the offensives to recapture occupied cities.