SULAIMANI (ESTA) — At least seven members of Islamic State (ISIS) militant group were killed during an operation against the militants in southwest of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said on Wednesday.
The Iraqi military alongside popular mobilization forces and tribal units launched a large-scale operation against ISIS militants from three axes to clear areas between Kirkuk, Saladin and Diyala provinces.
In a statement, Iraqi Security Media Cell said seven ISIS militants were killed in airstrikes carried out by Iraqi warplanes and a body of another militant was found during the operation.
The Iraqi forces also found 62 hideouts, 99 explosive devices, 15 explosive belts, four motorcycles, nine tunnels and two boats, it added.
They also destroyed a minefield and detonated six explosive devices, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, Hashid al-Shaabi paramilitary group said there were 40 “intelligence targets” that the forces are working to destroy within the scope of security operations in Kirkuk.
The Iraqi forces aimed to cleanse more than 3,000 square kilometers of ISIS militants in southwest of Kirkuk.
The federal government announced victory over ISIS 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.
