21 IS militants killed in clashes in Iraq

Iraqi security forces killed 21 Islamic State (IS) militants in security operations in Salahuddin and Anbar provinces, defence ministry said Saturday.

The security forces launched a number of military operations in the areas to the north and south of Salahuddin province's capital of Tikrit, killing 15 IS militants and destroying vehicles carrying machine guns belonged to the militants, Xinhua reported citing the statement.

Meanwhile, a security source in Anbar province in western Iraq said that Iraqi forces killed six IS militants and wounded 11 others in clashes in the suburbs area the city of Fallujah, the second largest city in the province.

Earlier Saturday, the defence ministry announced that its troops retook three villages in Anbar province from the control of the extremist organisation.

In a separate attack, three civilians were killed and 18 others wounded Saturday when a booby-trapped motorbike exploded near a popular market east of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, security source said.

A source in the Iraqi interior ministry confirmed that a booby-trapped motorbike exploded near Maridi market in eastern Baghdad's Sadr City, killing three civilians and wounding 18 others.