Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) Three Islamic State militants were killed in shelling in north of Salahuddin province, a security source said on Thursday.

“Aerial bombardment of a rest house at the outskirts of the western coast of Shirqat town, north of Salahuddin, left three militants killed and others wounded,” the source told AlSumaria News.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source added that “four air raids targeted the town over the past 24 hours, which left several militants killed and injured.”

Earlier on the day, a senior Islamic State leader was killed, along with his companions, as Iraqi warplanes waged airstrikes against IS havens in several villages in Shirqat.

Earlier this month, news reports indicated unprecedented displacement by IS families from Shirqat toward unknown destinations as liberation offensive nears.

The Iraqi army said in September its forces recaptured the western coast of Shirqat, located south of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris river, after being surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and the pro-government Shi’ite militias. The eastern coast of Shirqat, is still under the IS control.

Pivotal regions that link between each of Diyala, Salahuddin and Kirkuk, are still held by the militants which poses threats to the liberated regions. Iraqi troops are urged to prevent the militants infiltration between Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces, especially the regions stretching along Hamreen mountains and Al-Azeem town.

The government is expected to launch military offensives at the few remaining IS havens, including in Salahuddin.





