| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| ISIS attacks in Diyala repelled |
| 2017-05-30 |
| Baqubah (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi security forces foiled another attack by Islamic State militants against a checkpoint in Diyala, a security official said on Monday after bloody attacks left several civilian and security casualties. Ahmed al-Zarkoushi, mayor of Saadiya (60 Km northeast of Baqubah), was quoted saying in press statements that a security force, backed by Popular Mobilization Units, repelled the attack which targeted a checkpoint at Rabia village. He said no casualties resulted from the encounter. His announcement came a few hours after bloody attacks claimed by the Islamic State, which left civilians and security members dead and wounded. A suicide bomber blew himself up using an explosive belt at the entrance of a street leading to Diyala governorate building in central Baqubah, killing nine and wounding 12. A roadside bomb also exploded at Ghanimiya, north of Baqubah, killing six army members, including an officer, and wounding six others, Violence and armed conflicts claimed the lives of 317 Iraqis and caused injuries to 403 others during the month of April, according to a monthly United Nations count. Islamic State, almost losing its main holdout in Mosul to a security operation running since October, has been escalating attacks at other provinces where it still has a presence. Government and tribal forces have launched occasional operations over the past few months to clear border regions between Diyala and Salahuddin, killing dozens of militants. IS fighters have also responded with occasional attacks targeting troops, leaving several deaths. Officials from towns still held by IS since 2014 have pressed the Iraqi government to hasten with security operations to retake those regions, but the Iraqi government is giving most attention to its battle in Mosul, Islamic State’s largest stronghold in Iraq. |
| Posted by:badanov |