Five ISIS leaders among dozens killed in Iraqi and coalition air raids

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Warplanes from the US-led coalition and Iraqi jets reportedly carried out airstrikes on Monday against ISIS militants in Makhmour and Anbar, killing dozens of militants and destroying several of their positions.

A Peshmerga source confirmed to Rudaw that "today coalition jets have repeatedly bombed ISIS positions on the Gwer-Makhmour front."

The source revealed, as a result of the bombings, 24 ISIS militants have been killed.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Interior ministry announced Monday that 13 ISIS militants, including five leaders, were reportedly killed after Iraqi fighter jets shelled a military base belonging to the group in the area of Sharkat in western Anbar province.

"Depending on intelligence information from (the Iraqi interior ministry), a gathering of ISIS leaders and militants was successfully targeted in the area of Sharkat, killing 13 ISIS militants," said the Iraqi interior ministry in a statement.

Of the 13 ISIS militants, "five of the slain were leaders," it added, saying they included an area commander, a person in charge of suicide bombers and a media officer.

Following the deadly air raids, ISIS reportedly launched random arrests of civilians in the area.