Iraqi F-16 jets strike ISIS hideout in Salah al-Din, killing six militants

SALAH AL-DIN — Iraqi F-16 fighter jets carried out airstrikes on Monday, targeting an ISIS hideout in the Aith area within the Salah al-Din Operations Command sector. According to an official statement, six ISIS militants were killed in the operation.

The Security Media Cell, which is affiliated with the office of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, confirmed that the strike was based on “precise intelligence” as part of Iraq’s broader efforts to eradicate the remaining elements of ISIS.

“This operation is a continuation of our offensive strategy and the relentless pursuit of the defeated remnants of ISIS, in revenge for the martyrs of Kirkuk,” the statement said, referencing a recent attack in which four Iraqi soldiers were killed and three others injured by ISIS militants in the Zaghayton Valley, southeast of Hawija in Kirkuk governorate.

Although Iraq declared victory over ISIS in 2017, the militant group continues to operate in isolated pockets, particularly in remote areas. This latest strike reflects Iraq’s ongoing commitment to combat the persistent threat posed by these factions.

“Our security forces will continue delivering just retribution to the remaining ISIS gangs, and the earth will become too narrow for them,” the statement added, pledging to maintain pressure on ISIS militants “with the determination of the brave.”

In an October 6 update, the Security Media Cell reported that Iraqi forces had killed over 100 ISIS militants, including many senior leaders, during counterterrorism operations this year.