South Front
Iraqi Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons conduct a training mission over Iraq May 26, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Russ Scalf)
On April 7, the Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) carried out two waves of airstrikes on hideouts of ISIS near Hamrin Lake in the eastern province of Diyala.
In a statement, the Iraqi Security Media Cell said that the first wave of airstrikes was carried out based on information provided by the Military Intelligence Directorate, while the second wave was carried out in coordination with the National Security Service. At least five terrorists were killed in the airstrikes.
The cell and the IQAF released footage of the pinpoint airstrikes, which were carried out by F-16IQ fighter jets armed with 227-kg GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs.
Last month, IQAF warplanes targeted several hideouts and gatherings of ISIS terrorists thanks to information provided by local intelligence services.
On March 7, a series of airstrikes hit a group of ISIS terrorists that was moving on Bilkanah mount in the central province of Saladin. Later on March 14, IQAF fighter jets targeted a hideout of the terrorist group located to the east of the town of Amerli in Saladin. On March 24, several airstrikes destroyed hideouts of the group in the area of Narin in Diyala. Finally on March 29, Iraqi fighter jets targeted a number of hideouts in the northern province of Kirkuk.
The recent airstrikes, which inflicted some heavy losses on ISIS, demonstrated the IQAF ability to operate without any support from the United States-led coalition.
It’s worth noting that Iraq announced the defeat of ISIS in 2017. However, the terrorist group’s remnants are still waging an insurgency in different parts of the country.
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