Iraq’s army troops, backed by volunteer forces, have killed more than 40 ISIL militants during a mop-up operation against the terror group near the capital.
The Iraqi Defense Ministry said in a statement that the forces succeeded in purging a district south of Baghdad of the Takfiri militants.
The country’s armed forces, who have been battling the ISIL for nearly six months now, inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists, capturing a huge amount of ammunition from them and destroying their vehicles.
The new advances come as the Iraqi government forces have also engaged the Takfiri militants in other parts of the violence-hit country, with reports saying that they have killed scores of militants near the cities of Tikrit and Baiji.
ISIL used chemical weapons against Iraqi troops
On the other hand, Iraqi officials say the ISIL Takfiri militants carried out a chemical attack against security forces and Shia volunteer fighters north of the capital, Baghdad, last month.
According to the accounts of officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, ISIL terrorists used bombs with chlorine-filled cylinders during clashes in the town of Duluiya, located about 96 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital, on September 15.
They said some 40 Iraqi soldiers were made ill and showed symptoms of chlorine poisoning such as coughing and vomiting. They were all treated in hospital and quickly recovered.
The use of chlorine gas has raised grave concerns about future militant attacks in Iraq.
The ISIL terrorists have committed terrible atrocities in both countries, including mass executions and beheading of local residents as well as foreign nationals.
Al- Manar News , PRESS T.V
R.S