Islamic State pursued in Iraq, targeting civilians in Syria

BAGHDAD / HEMTO, Syria — Twelve members of the Islamic State (ISIS) were killed in Iraqi air strikes in Baghdad Governorate, said the Joint Operations Command in Iraq.

Spokesperson for Joint Operations Command Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji declared that there are security operations outside Baghdad, related to securing visits to Imam al-Kadhim shrine.

This is the 5th anti-ISIS operation conducted by Iraqi forces this week. The last one took place on Tuesday, when the security services thwarted a terrorist operation and arrested ISIS leaders inside and outside Iraq.

In related news, three civilians were killed in an ISIS attack while they were searching for truffles in Uqayribat, east of Hemto (Hama), Syria.

On Sunday, 11 others were killed after they were kidnapped along with 64 others who were also searching for truffles in Tadmorto (Palmyra), east of Hmoth (Homs).

ISIS also executed 5 civilians in the Syrian Badia (desert), in the eastern countryside of Hmoth, bringing the number of ISIS-executed civilians to 16.