SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi forces killed 42 Islamic State (ISIS) militants in south of Mosul in two days, a military spokesman said on Saturday.
Yehia Rasool, spokesman for commander-in-chief of armed forces Mustafa al-Kadhimi, said Iraqi counter-terrorism forces had launched a two-day military operation against ISIS militants in Ain al-Jahish area in south of Mosul.
“The counter-terrorism forces chased the militants after they fled to their tunnels and dens following severe clashes for two days,” Rasool said in a statement.
Rasool added that 42 ISIS militants were killed during the two-day operation. “Wali of Dijla sector known as Bara, his deputy Abu Mohammed and head of Dijla sector’s media Abu Sayaf were among the dead.”
The federal government announced victory over Islamic State by the end of 2017 after Iraqi and Kurdish forces backed by U.S.-led Coalition regained control of areas once captured by the militant group.
Despite its defeat, ISIS still poses a threat to the security and stability of the country as there are still sleeper cells in Iraq.
