Baghdad, July 20 (UNI) Iraqi warplanes conducted an airstrike in northern Iraq, killing three Islamic State (IS) militants in a mountainous area between Kirkuk and Saladin provinces, the military said.

The Security Media Cell (SMC), a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said on Friday in a statement that the airstrike targeted the militants at 5:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) based on intelligence reports.

A later statement from the SMC said security forces found the bodies of three IS militants and seized weapons, ammunition, and explosive belts at the bombed site. Destroyed weapons and communication devices were also found.

A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that one of the killed militants was a senior IS member wanted by Iraqi security forces.

While the overall security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of IS in 2017, the group's remnants continue to operate in urban areas, deserts, and rugged terrain, conducting sporadic guerilla attacks on security forces and civilians.
UNI/XINHUA AKS