BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi air force jets bombed the Islamic State (ISIS) group near an important air base in Salahadin province on Sunday, killing 39 militants, the defense ministry said in a statement.
It said the warplanes had targeted ISIS positions around the Speicher air force base, Iraq’s second-largest.
"Iraqi jets have bombed many ISIS militants southeast of the Salahadin province capital of Tikrit, dealing a major blow to the group strength in the area," according to the ministry.
“Many of the Daesh (ISIS) militants killed in the attack are foreigners,” the statement added. “Along with the casualties, four ready-to-use car bombs were also destroyed.”
In an earlier clash between the Iraqi army and ISIS after the city was cleared of the group’s extremists in early May, the militants launched a surprise attack on the Speicher base, reportedly killing a number of Iraqi forces.
Nearly 1,700 cadets at the base were killed last June, after the Iraqi army withdrew without a fight from Tikrit, virtually handing the city to ISIS.
