Iraqi forces clashed with ISIS militants in Tikrit killing 15

Iraq’s Province of Salahaldin witnessed the infiltration of a number of militants loyal to extremist ISIS group to the Iraqi city of Tikrit, leading to intensive clashes between the Iraqi security forces on one hand and the extremist militants on the other hand. According to security sources, the clashes led to the killing of over 15 persons and the injury of over 20 in the city’s Zohoor district.

The source revealed that the militants loyal to ISIS attacked a security patrol, as the Iraqi forces clashed with them leading to the killing of 15 persons and the injury of other 20, including Colonel Khaled Jassar and his son. Spokesperson of Iraq’s Interior Ministry Saad Maan revealed that the Iraqi security forces managed to kill two suicide bombers during their attempt to attack the Iraqi forces in Zohoor district.

He added that the Iraqi forces managed to undermine the extremists’ attack, stressing that the situation is under security control. Security sources revealed that an officer and three soldiers have been killed during the attack, as ISIS extremist elements opened the fire on the security patrol, adding that the clashes led to the killing of a number of civilians.

On his hand, Salahaldin’s Governor Ahmed Abdullah Al Jabori expressed his appreciation to the role performed by the residents to support the security forces during the clash against the extremist elements, as they allowed the Iraqi forces inspect the houses to arrest the extremist militants. He called the citizens for increasing their cooperation with the security forces during the coming period to eliminate the extremist group from the province as soon as possible.

He added that the attack comes in the framework of the attempts adopted by the extremists to undermine the efforts aiming to develop the province’s infrastructure and to increase the current state of chaos dominating the country during the current period in which the Iraqi forces resume their victory against the extremists.

On the other hand, ISIS extremist group published a voice recording calling its supporters for supporting the group during its battles in both Iraq and Syria against the world powers. It added that the U.S will be defeated as soon as possible, describing U.S President as despicable

The group added, during its 35-minute recording, that the supporters of the Caliphate should carry out terrorist actions in the countries in which they live, including U.S, Russia and other European countries to suspend their attacks against the strongholds of the extremist group in Iraq and Syria.