BAGHDAD, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Four Islamic State (IS) militants and a paramilitary fighter from a local tribal force affiliated with the Hashd Shaabi forces were killed on Thursday during an operation to hunt down IS militants in northern Iraq, the Iraqi military said.
Backed by Iraqi aircraft, a joint force of the Iraqi army and fighters from local tribes clashed with IS militants in the desert that extends between Salahudin and Nineveh provinces, leaving four IS militants killed, including the leader of the group in the area, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.
The statement added that a tribal fighter was also killed in the clash.
The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. ■
