Iraq hunts down Daesh militants after attacks

By Ali Jawad and Hussein al-Amir

BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraqi forces on Monday began military operations against Daesh militants in eastern and northern Iraq following a spate of attacks by the terrorist group.

“The security situation is troubling in northeastern Diyala” in eastern Iraq, Police Capt. Habib al-Shimari told Anadolu Agency.

On Saturday, four people were killed in a Daesh attack in al-Saadiya town, northeast of Diyala.

Daesh militants also attacked a patrol of the pro-government Hashd al-Shaabi militia in the area on Sunday, injuring two fighters.

"The Hashd al-Shaabi launched large-scale security operations on the outskirts of the town to hunt down Daesh militants in the area,” al-Shimari said.

Meanwhile, federal police forces launched a security operation south of Samarra in northern Iraq.

“Security forces destroyed several militant hideouts and seized caches of weapons during the operation,” First Lieutenant Ghassan al-Kanani said.

The operation came in the wake of a spate of attacks launched by Daesh militants against Shia shrines in the area.

Last December, officials in Baghdad declared that the Daesh terrorist group's military presence in Iraq had been all but dismantled. It appears the notorious terrorist group, however, still maintains "sleeper cells" in certain parts of the country, including Diyala and the neighboring Saladin province.