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An Irish jihadi has blown himself up in a suicide attack in Iraq, after ploughing his truck into Iraqi soldiers near Mosul, according to reports.

Khalid Kelly is believed to have died when he drove a truck filled with explosives into advancing troops near the city of Mosul.

It is believed the former Catholic altar boy is the "first ISIS fighter from Ireland" which renamed him Abu Usama Al-Irlandi.

He was at least one of the five suicide bombers who detonated their suicide trucks on the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) west of Mosul on Friday, according to Islamic State.

Al-Jazirah, an ISIS outlet, posted chilling pictures of the 49-year-old moments before he carried out the attack appeared on Twitter.

(Image: Irish Mirror)

He was seen posing in front of the VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) he used to attack the PMU as their forces charged through ISIS-held desert territory in the Niniveh Governorate.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is monitoring the situation surrounding Mr Kelly.

A spokesman told Dublin Live : "The Department is aware of reports concerning an Irish citizen in Iraq and is seeking to clarify the situation."

(Image: AFP) (Image: Twitter)

Kelly was previously arrested during Barack Obama's visit to Ireland by specialist anti-terror gardai.

He had preached that the US leader should be murdered while in the country.

Kelly, who converted to Islam while in jail in Saudi Arabia, previously insisted thousands of European Muslims are joining the Islamic State because their religion is under attack.

He said: “[For] Almost 100 years Muslims have not had an Islamic state, since it was dis-established in 1924.

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(Image: REUTERS)

“Being without state meant Muslims became weak with no one to defend Islam. Now Islamic State has been established.

“Of course it is only natural for Muslims to want to go defend their religion. Islam has been under attack for decades now.

“Just to be clear, no one wants to see anyone being killed or beheaded. We don’t want war, we want peace but the whole world is attacking us so there is no choice but to fight.”

According to the BBC , Iraqi government forces claim that 90% of Mosul, a city held by Islamic State for over two years, is now under their control.

The fight for the city of Mosul - Islamic State's final stronghold - has increased in intensity over the past 48 hours.

Desperate IS warlords have ordered famil