Iraqi army killed 16 Daesh/ISIS terrorists

By Ali Makram Ghareeb

KIRKUK, Baghdad (AA) - The Iraqi army on Friday killed 16 Daesh/ISIS terrorists in a counter-terrorism operation in northern Iraq, the military’s local commander said.

The operation was carried out in the countryside of northern Kirkuk province, Saad Harbiye, Kirkuk operations commander, told Anadolu Agency.

The operation was supported by drones of the US-led international coalition against Daesh/ISIS, he said.

Iraqi security forces destroyed a large number of terrorist shelters during the operation. Many forged documents, passports, identities cards and weapons were also seized, Harbiye added.

Late 2017, officials in Baghdad declared that the military presence of Daesh/ISIS in Iraq had been all but destroyed.

But the terrorists still have a presence in rural areas of Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Saladin, and Mosul.

The Iraqi army continues to carry out frequent operations against the group in parts of the country.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara