ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Several alleged Islamic State (ISIS) members were killed when an airstrike struck their location south of the ancient city of Hatra, south of Mosul, the Iraqi Security Media Cell announced on Tuesday.
F-16 jets launched precise airstrikes at a 140 meter-long cave south of Hatra in the early hours of Tuesday morning, believed to be a "command and control headquarters" for ISIS militants, killing seven.
According to the cell, the operation was a result of "field efforts by the security units in monitoring and following up on terrorist leaders and their affiliated elements," and was conducted by "the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency in the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with the targeting cell of the Joint Operations Command and with the diligent and hard work of the units of the West Nineveh Operations Command."
Last month, the Iraqi air force killed three ISIS members, including two leaders in an airstrike, once again in the south of Hatra.
Days later, the air force delivered yet another devastating blow to the jihadists, killing four ISIS members in an airstrike in Salahaddin province.
ISIS seized control of swathes of land in Iraq in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in 2017 but it continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces. ISIS remnants are particularly active in parts of northern Iraq that are disputed by Erbil and Baghdad, including in the provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahaddin.
Iraqi security forces frequently carry out operations to arrest members of the terror group.
Despite attacks, experts have suggested that an ISIS resurgence in Iraq is unlikely, with the group isolated from the population as the country ramps up security operations targeting the militants.
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