Iraqi officer killed in armed clashes with Daesh/ISIS terrorists

BAGHDAD (AA) - An officer was killed during clashes in the city of Samarra in Salah al-Din Governorate, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said Thursday.

The ministry-affiliated Security Media Cell said in a statement that the Samarra Operations Command "managed to thwart an attempt to attack a federal police station in al-Mu'tasim district, southeast of Samarra.”

“A search operation was launched in the area near the accident, which led to the death of one of the officers,” the statement said.

“Security forces were able to kill 3 terrorists, one of whom was a suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt, and seize their weapons,” according to official sources.

Daesh/ISIS overran Iraq's Mosul, Salah al-Din and Anbar provinces in 2014, as well as parts of Diyala and Kirkuk provinces, before these regions were gradually freed from the terror group.

Iraqi authorities announced victory against Daesh/ISIS on Dec. 9, 2017, yet the group still carries out sporadic attacks in the rural areas of these provinces.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi in Ankara