MOSCOW, January 10 (Sputnik) — At least 17 Islamic State (IS) militants have been killed in airstrikes on the northern city of Kirkuk, carried out by the Iraqi Air Force, Iraqi News reported Saturday.
“The IA strike resulted in killing 17 ISIL terrorists in western Kirkuk,” a local security source was quoted as saying by the news outlet.
Islamic State (IS), also known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has taken over large portions of Iraq and neighboring Syria. Both the countries' armed forces, as well as local Kurdish militia, are battling the jihadist group.
In addition, IS is targeted by airstrikes carried out by the US-led international coalition, which has also vowed to train and equip Iraqi military and the so-called moderate Syrian opposition.