Four IS members killed in Iraq

Baghdad, Dec 8 (IANS/EFE) At least four members of the Sunni radical group Islamic State (IS) have been killed and eight others injured in airstrikes carried out by the US-led international coalition near the Mosul Dam in northern Iraq, authorities said.

Mosul Dam security official Mohiedin Mazuri said Monday that the aircraft had targeted an IS convoy in Al Aska area, around 10 km from Mosul city, the capital of Nineveh province.

The attack, which also destroyed four IS vehicles, prevented the militants from approaching areas around the dam.

According to Mazuri, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces gained total control of areas close to the dam after they strengthened their defence in the vicinity of the front lines with the IS fighters.

In June, the IS occupied the city of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, and rapidly advanced to other areas, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.

--IANS/EFE

vr