ISIL’s Mufti, Four Aides Killed in Iraqi Airstrikes in Nineveh Province

Al-Ma’amouri said that the Iraqi fighter jets targeted the vehicle of the ISIL Mufti in the Eastern part of al-Ba’aj county, resulting in the death of the Mufti and four of his assistances.

He further added that his forces engaged in fierce clashes with ISIL and managed to take control of the villages of Eastern Rambous and Western Rambous North of al-Ba’aj.

A local source said earlier today that a senior ISIL leader was reportedly killed in an attack against security checkpoint, Northeast of Diyal.

The source confirmed the death of so-called emir of Hamreen lake after being profoundly wounded while taking part in an attack against a security checkpoint in the vicinity of the lake,” Al Sumariya reported.

The murder of the leader, who was an Iraqi national, according to the source, is another blow against ISIL in Hamreen, where the group failed to revive its cells once again.

The group escalated attacks against government, paramilitary troops and civilians in Diyala and neighboring Salahuddin over the past few months.

Several offensives were launched over the past few months in Eastern and Northeastern regions in Diyala.

Earlier this month, the command launched offensives at four regions of al-Nada basin, Hamreen, Wadi Thilab and Tilal Qazlaq in the province.

ISIL still holds a few areas in Salahuddin, Diyala, Anbar and Kirkuk, occasionally using them as launching points for its attacks against civilians and security. The Iraqi government is currently employing most of its military power in a major campaign to drive ISIL out of Mosul, its largest stronghold in Iraq.