An official in the ranks of Islamic State (ISIS) was killed along with three other militants in the northwestern Iraqi city of Mosul, security sources reported on Sunday.



An official in the ranks of Islamic State (ISIS) was killed along with three other militants in the northwestern Iraqi city of Mosul, security sources reported on Sunday.

Wathiq Khalil Ahmed, an ISIS top official and chief of security in Mosul, was killed in an attack by Iraqi tribal forces.

“Ahmed and three other militants were killed in an attack launched by tribal fighters on ISIS headquarters in the Sukkar district of Mosul,” a local source said.

“The group has lost a lot of its power in Mosul and other areas of Iraq in the recent months. Iraqi forces are able to infiltrate into ISIS power centers more easily than before,” the source added. “This explains the assassination of Wathiq Khalil Ahmed, who was known for the tight security around him.”

Member of the Iraqi Arab clan of al-Jabour Amed al-Luhaibi said: “ISIS has no supporters among the people of Mosul. The group lacks any popular incubator after conducting unbearable atrocities against civilians there.”

On Thursday, clashes broke out between militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) and Iraqi tribal forces in Nineveh province.

At least 15 ISIS militants were killed during clashes with tribal forces from al-Jabour clan in the Qiyara district west of Mosul in Nineveh province, local sources reported.

“We have always refused the presence of this radical group in Mosul. We will fight ISIS until the last man of our clan,” al-Luhaibi said.

ISIS took over the city of Mosul in June 2014, after an unexpected withdrawal by Iraqi army forces. Since then, Kurdish forces of the Peshmerga and Iraqi army have been combatting the group in Nineveh province and other areas across Iraq.

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