Islamic State claims attack on army post in northern Iraq

BAGHDAD:

Islamic State

claimed responsibility on Tuesday for an

attack

on Monday targeting an

army post

in

northern Iraq

which

security sources

said had killed a

commanding officer

and four soldiers.
The attack took place between Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, a rural area that remains a hotbed of activity for militant cells years after Iraq declared final victory over the extremist group in 2017.

Security forces repelled the attack, the defence ministry said on Monday in a statement mourning the loss of a colonel and a number of others from the regiment. The security sources said five others had also been wounded.
Islamic State said in a statement on Telegram it had targeted the barracks with machine guns and grenades.
Iraq has seen relative security stability in recent years after the chaos of the 2003-U.S.-led invasion and years of bloody sectarian conflict that followed.