5 Iraqi soldiers killed in Baquba

Five Iraqi soldiers and an official from Sahwa forces were killed today when an explosive device went off in northern eastern Baquba in north Iraq. Police said the explosive device targeted a joint army and Sahwa force which carrying out a security operation near Al Jazeera area in northeastern Baquba, adding that the explosion was followed by a light machinegun attack in which five soldiers and Sahwa official were killed. It added that an army force arrived in the area and began a search campaign for the culprits in which more than 20 people, including a mosque Imam, were arrested. In another development, the joint operations command announced that 15 militants, including prominent leaders of Daash or Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS), were arrested in south of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Spokesman of the Command Col. Saad Maan said police in Nineveh carried out a pre-emptive operation against hideouts of militants in Qabr Al Abd village, south of Mosul, in which 15 militants wanted in connection with terrorist cases were arrested. He added that the arrested militants include prominent leaders of Daash who have been held responsible for planting explosive devices and explosions at security centres. Source: QNA