ISIS area governor commits suicide bombing in Diyala and wounds security member

One security member was wounded when an Islamic State leader blew himself up near a security checkpoint in Diyala, the Interior Ministry said Thursday.
Ministry spokesperson Saad Maan said in a statement that the militant, identified as “Abu Muaz”, a so-called “general administrator of the Northern State”, blew himself up using an explosive belt once he was encircled by the troops at a checkpoint in Ghalibiya area.

Thousands of security troops and civilians have been killed and wounded in attacks by the Islamic State since the group emerged in 2014 to proclaim a self-styled “Islamic Caliphate”. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq says violence involving the extremist group left 1115 civilians dead and injured during March.

Iraqi government forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, are currently leading a major campaign to drive IS out of Mosul, its largest stronghold in Iraq. Iraqi commanders say the group currently controls less than seven percent of Iraq.

IS still maintains smaller havens in Anbar, Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin, occasionally using them as launching points for its attacks against civilians and security which observers believe are aimed to make up for defeats in Mosul and lessen security pressure there. The Iraqi government is expected to launch further offensives to clear those regions once finished with the Mosul campaign.

Source: Iraqi News