18 jihadis killed in clashes in Iraq

Mosul, Iraq, Feb 12 (IANS/EFE) At least 18 members of the Islamic State group were killed in fighting with Kurdish troops, known as the "peshmerga", in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

The leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Gayaz al-Surji, told Efe that the clashes erupted when Kurdish forces repelled an attack by the IS in Hasan Shami village, 27 km from Mosul.

During the fighting, which lasted over two hours, four peshmerga men were wounded and the Kurdish fighters destroyed nine IS vehicles loaded with weapons.

Surji said the jihadis launched the attack under the cover of a sandstorm, but the Kurdish troops managed to hold their positions.

--IANS/EFE

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