45 militants killed in clashes between Iraq army, ISIL in Salahuddin

Clashes between Iraq’s army and the ISIL Takfiri militants continue unabated in northern Salahuddin province with Iraqi air force killing at least 45 militants.

According to a Monday statement by Iraqi Interior Ministry, the militants were killed in an airstrike by the Iraqi army’s air force in the northern districts of Salahuddin.

The statement further said, “The airstrike resulted in killing 45 ISIL fighters in the district of al-Sharqat and the areas of Makfoul, al-Mallaha, and al-Ba’aji in the district of Baiji,” online newspaper Iraqi News reported.

The development comes as the Takfiri militants keep attacking the district of al-Dajil and the Baiji’s oil refinery.

“Baiji’s refinery and the district of al-Dajil are constantly under fierce ISIL attacks,” Khaled al-Khazraji, the deputy president of the security committee in Salahuddin Provincial Council, told Iraqi News.

He further noted that al-Jazirah is the area from which the ISIL attacks are launched.

“The forces are not blockaded inside the refinery, but they need reinforcements,” Khazraji added.