BAGHDAD, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) said Sunday that its commando forces have killed 13 militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group across the country so far this month.
Spokesman of CTS Sabah al-Numan told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the commandos, backed by Iraqi aircraft, carried out several security operations in June, killing 13 IS militants and arresting many others, in addition to the destruction of some caves and hideouts.
The CTS forces will continue their operations to hunt down IS militants, al-Numan said.
The operations were part of efforts to eliminate the extremist IS militants who intensified their attacks on security forces and civilians in the formerly IS-controlled provinces, resulting in the killing and wounding of dozens.
The security situation in Iraq has been improving since the Iraqi security forces fully defeated the IS militants across the country late in 2017.
However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.
