BAGHDAD, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Up to eight Islamic State (IS) militants and a security member were killed on Tuesday in an anti-IS operation in the Iraqi province of Salahudin, a security source said.
Iraqi army, police and a force of commandos of the Counter-Terrorism Service conducted an operation against IS positions in al-Khanogah mountainous area in the town of al-Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Mohammed al-Bazi from Salahudin provincial public security department told Xinhua.
The troops made their push with the support of heavy bombardment by the international coalition aircraft on the positions of the IS militants, al-Bazi said.
Five security members were wounded during the operation, which also resulted in the destruction of IS positions and hideouts, al-Bazi said, adding that the operation will continue until the whole area is cleared from IS remnants.
The security situation in Iraq has been improved since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist IS militants across the country late in 2017.
However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.
