Two Islamic State members killed near borders between Diyala, Salahuddin
Unidentified gunmen attack a checkpoint of Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi
Speaking to Almaalomah website, the source said, “troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) killed, today, two Islamic State members near Mutaibija, between Diyala and Salahuddin.”
The two militants, according to the source, “were planning to infiltrate into Diyala, possessing weapons.”
PMFs, as well as other security troops, “are still purging desert regions to clear it out of Islamic State members,” the source added.
Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.
Thousands of Islamic State 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, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.
In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.