BAGHDAD, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces and paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units on Sunday destroyed 10 hideouts of Islamic State (IS) militants and killed three suicide bombers in an operation in Iraq's central province of Salahudin.
The troops, backed by the army's gunships, carried out a preemptive operation against IS militants in Himreen mountain range, the media office of the Hashd Shaabi said in a statement.
The troops seized explosive belts, ammunition and foodstuffs in the hideouts, the statement added.
Iraqi security forces launched sporadic operations to hunt down IS militants hiding in Himreen mountainous area, killing many extremist militants and destroying many of their hideouts.
The security situation in Iraq was dramatically improved after Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist IS militants across the country late in 2017.
IS remnants, however, have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas as safe havens, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.
