150 ISIL Takfiri militants slain in Iraqi army strikes

At least 150 Takfiri ISIL terrorists have been killed when Iraqi fighter jets carried out two separate operations in Iraq’s violence-plagued western province of al-Anbar as well as the northern province of Salahuddin.

According to a statement released by the Iraqi Defense Ministry late on Friday, the terrorists were killed when Iraqi air force military aircraft carried out precision strikes against ISIL positions in Salahuddin Province as well as east of the city of al-Karma, located 48 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad.

The statement further noted that Iraqi jets also destroyed 25 vehicles.

Separately, 13 ISIL Takfiris were killed and two Humvee military vehicles used by the terrorists destroyed when units of Iraqi government forces lobbed missiles at ISIL bases east of Karma on Friday.

The developments come as Iraqi soldiers, backed by volunteer fighters, have retaken an airport in the town of al-Dour, located more than 160 kilometers (100 miles) north of Baghdad.

The liberation of the airport took place as the army as well as Shia and Sunni volunteers pushed ahead with their major offensive against the terrorists in Salahuddin Province, where they have already managed to liberate 97 regions and districts from ISIL Takfiri terrorists over the past few days.

Iraqi army soldiers backed by Shia fighters are tightening the noose around the ISIL-held city of Tikrit, located on the Tigris River in the east. According to provincial officials, Iraqi forces are expected to reach the edges of the city on Saturday.

ISIL started its campaign of terror in Iraq in early June 2014. The heavily armed terrorists took control of Mosul before sweeping through parts of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland.

Iraqi soldiers, police units, Kurdish forces, Shia volunteers and Sunni tribesmen are engaged in battles with the terrorists to drive them back from some areas they have under control.