An airstrike by the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) targeted a hideout of the group in northeastern Diyala has killed seven IS militants.
The airstrike which was conducted late on Saturday December 21, according to brigadier general Dhargham Abdul-Khidhir, an Iraqi army commander.
“The operation which was carried out in coordination with the Iraqi air force targeted a hideout used by the group in an area between Khanaqin and Jalawla,” the commander said.
He added that “seven IS fighters were killed in the airstrike; however, it was unclear if there were leading members of the group among the dead.”
“The airstrike dealt a major blow to IS. Our goal is to further debilitate the group.”
IS has been launching sporadic attacks in the areas disputed by the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan regional government (KRG), particularly in Khanaqin, northeast of Diyala.
The attacks, which have targeted civilians and security personnel as well, have led to the evacuation of six villages associated with the disputed district.
Late on Saturday, December 21, unknown gunmen believed to be IS militants attacked a checkpoint manned by Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in eastern Diyala’s disputed Sa’diya sub-district. A member of the PMF was killed and three others were injured in the attack.
