BAGHDAD, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Four would-be suicide bombers affiliated with Islamic State (IS) militant group were killed Wednesday during a raid by Iraqi security forces in eastern Diyala province, Diyala's governor said.
A force from the intelligence of the provincial Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) raided an IS hideout in the area of Galli, about 65 km east of the provincial capital Baquba, Muthanna al-Tamimi, who is also head of security committee of the provincial council, said in a statement.
The attack resulted in the killing of four foreign IS militants wearing suicide vests after heavy clashes in the hideout that resulted in the wounding of one of the CTS members, al-Tamimi said without giving further details about the nationalities of the militants.
According to al-Tamimi, the troops confiscated caches of weapons, ammunition and suicide vests found in the the hideout.
Despite repeated military operations in Diyala, IS remnants were still hiding in rugged areas near the border with Iran, as well as the sprawling areas extending from the western part of Diyala to Himreen mountainous area in the northern part of the province.
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 hit-and-run attacks against security forces and civilians.
