BAGHDAD, Dec 30 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi security forces killed five militants of the extremist Daesh group, during a three-day security operation, in Iraq’s eastern province of Diyala, the Iraqi military said yesterday.
Yahia Rasoul, spokesperson of the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, said, Iraqi forces, backed by Iraqi aircraft, launched a major operation on Sunday, in the Himreen mountain range, in the north of the provincial capital, Baquba, some 65 km north-east of Baghdad.
During the operation, the troops found 23 Daesh hideouts and killed five Daesh militants, seizing many weapons and equipment, while the Iraqi warplanes conducted 14 airstrikes on Daesh positions in the mountainous area, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Raad al-Shammari from the Diyala Operations Command said that, one of the operation’s goals was to track down the militants, who kidnapped Colonel Yasser al-Jourani, head of a passport office in Baghdad, along with three of his friends, several days ago, while they were on a hunting trip in a rugged area in Diyala province.
Al-Shammari said, the Iraqi forces found two bodies during the operation which were of al-Jourani’s friends, while the third is still missing.
Rasoul confirmed in a separate statement that, al-Jourani was also killed by the militants, after the group claimed that its militants executed al-Jourani and posted a statement and pictures on the internet, showing the killing of al-Jourani.
Over the past few months the militants intensified attacks on Iraqi security forces in the provinces, where the militants previously controlled, leaving dozens dead and wounded.– NNN-NINA