Iraqi Air Force Eliminated 40 IS Militants In Syria On Tuesday - Command

Sumaira FH Published November 21, 2018 | 05:42 PM

BAGHDAD (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st November, 2018) The Iraqi Air Force's strikes eliminated at least 40 terrorists in Syria on Tuesday, spokesman for the Iraqi army's joint operations command Brig. Gen. Yehia Rasul told Sputnik on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, media reported that the Iraqi military conducted airstrikes targeting positions of the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) in Syria near the border with Iraq.

"As a result of the strikes ... all terrorists [in this area] were killed. There were 10 of them in the first location, and 30 in the second one," Rasul said, adding that there were also missiles, weapons and equipment belonging to the terrorists in the area.

He noted that Baghdad considered these IS positions in Syria a threat to Iraq, attacking them preemptively.

Rasul also said that Iraqi intelligence played an important role in the operation, adding that agents also supplied Damascus with "accurate information about terrorists" in Syria.

He stressed that the quadrilateral intelligence data exchange center in Baghdad, which includes Iraq, Syria, Iran and Russia, continued its work.

"[Russia's] role is very important. Russia has advanced technology in tracking and is of great importance in the exchange of intelligence," Rasul said.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the government forces fighting against numerous opposition groups and militant and terrorist organizations. Russia, along with Turkey and Iran, is a guarantor of the ceasefire regime in Syria. Moscow has also been providing humanitarian aid to residents of the crisis-torn country.