Iraqi airstrike destroys IS hideout in E. province, killing militants

BAGHDAD, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) — The Iraqi military announced on Thursday that it had conducted an airstrike in the eastern province of Diyala, destroying an Islamic State (IS) hideout and killing all militants inside.
Based on intelligence reports, the Iraqi military sent F-16 fighter jets to attack the IS hideout in the Hamrin mountain range in northern Diyala at 7:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT), according to a statement released by the Security Media Cell, a media outlet of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.
The statement added that the destroyed hideout served as a logistical support site for IS terrorists.
Captain Asaad Salman from the federal police told Xinhua that a team of soldiers and federal police was sent to the scene, where they discovered scattered remains of militants, along with weapons, ammunition, and other logistical materials. The death toll was not specified.
While the security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of IS in 2017, remnants of the group have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, continuing to conduct frequent guerrilla attacks against security forces and civilians. ■