Two paramilitary personnel killed by ISIS as terrorists target checkpoint east of Tikrit

Two personnel of the Shia-led paramilitary troops were killed, while three others were wounded as booby-trapped vehicle targeted a checkpoint, east of Tikrit city, Iraqi police source said.

The vehicle, according to the source, exploded late on Tuesday at a checkpoint of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) at al-Naama village, near Hamreen mountains, east of Tikrit.

In related news, the troops media service announced killing three Islamic State militants as an IS attack near al-Siniya village, north of Tikrit, was repulsed.

IS still holds a few areas in each of Anbar, Salahuddin, Diyala and Kirkuk.

Growing activity by IS members has been seen at Salahuddin borders with Diyala over the past months coinciding with operations by U.S.-backed Iraqi government troops in Mosul, Islamic State’s largest stronghold which was declared free earlier this month.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

More than 700 Iraqis were killed and wounded during the month of June as result of violence and armed conflicts, according to a monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) which excludes security members deaths. Baghdad ranked the second place with 22 deaths and 88 injuries.

Source: Iraqi News