Dozens of ISIL Takfiris dead in Iraq mop-up operations

Dozens of Takfiri ISIL militants have been killed as Iraqi ground and air forces carried out separate mop-up operations against the terror group in the northern and western parts of the country.

According to a statement released by the Iraqi Defense Ministry on Friday, 25 ISIL extremists were killed after Iraqi fighter jets carried out precision strikes against Malahema village, which lies north of the capital, Baghdad.

Scores of ISIL members were also killed or injured when Iraqi warplanes pounded their positions west of the city of Samarra, which is situated 125 kilometers (78 miles) north of Baghdad.

Three pickup trucks loaded with munitions and other military hardware belonging to ISIL militants were also destroyed as Iraqi fighter jets conducted another airstrike in the town of Saqlawiyah, situated 75 kilometers (45 miles) west of the capital.

Earlier on Friday, 15 ISIL Takfiris were killed in Iraqi air force strikes in the violence-plagued western province of Anbar.

Iraqi security forces also killed seven ISIL militants and arrested four others during an operation on the outskirts of Samarra, Arabic-language al-Baghdadia satellite television network reported.

According to unnamed security sources, tens of ISIL terrorists were killed separately as Iraqi troopers lobbed artillery rounds at the militants’ hideouts in Fallujah, located roughly 69 kilometers (43 miles) west of Baghdad.

There has been no reference to the number of the casualties among Iraqi forces.

Units of Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer fighters have joined forces and are seeking to take back regions currently being held by ISIL militants.

The terrorists began their march through Iraqi territory in June 2014, and took full control of the country’s second city, Mosul, before capturing swathes of land in Iraq’s heartland.

ISIL Takfiris have committed gruesome crimes and terrorized members of various communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians during their onslaught in Iraq.

MP/MKA/HRB

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