Iraq in fresh offensive to hunt down Daesh militants

By Amir al-Saadi and Hussein al-Amir

DIYALA, Iraq

The Iraqi army on Wednesday launched a fresh offensive to hunt down Daesh militants in the northeastern Diyala province, according to an Iraqi police officer.

"Security forces have obtained a tip-off that Daesh militants were operating in the outskirts of al-Muqdadiya city" in the province, police cap. Habib al-Shammari told Anadolu Agency.

He said the operation aims to hunt down Daesh militants responsible for roadside bomb attacks and assassinations against security forces and officials in the area.

In a related development, three Sunni fighters were seriously injured by a bomb blast in eastern Diyala.

Last month, Iraqi forces dislodged Daesh from Mosul, which the terrorist group overran in 2014 along vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq.

Iraqi forces recaptured Diyala province from Daesh militants in late 2015.