Iraqi school guard stands up to Islamic State militants and foils attack

An Iraqi school guard in Diyala province single-handedly repelled an attack by Islamic State militants against local paramilitary forces.

Awwad al-Rubayi, chairman of the security committee at Abi Saida precinct, told Alghad Press that terrorist elements, probably, from the Islamic State, sneaked in the area and erected a ladder against the walls of a school on the outskirts of Abi Saida. He said the militants were planning to use the school as a vantage point for an attack against paramilitary security forces.

“The guard was prepared, and managed to confront the militants with his personal gun and foiled the attack, leaving him with injuries,” the official said. Local chased the fighters away, he added.

Iraq declared victory over Islamic State militants and the recapture of all of the group’s strongholds in December, but forces continue to hunt for remnant militants hiding at desert areas.

The borders between Diyala and Salahuddin had been hotspots for IS militant activity and launching points for attacks on security forces and civilians since the militants proclaimed a self-styled “caliphate” rule in Iraq in 2014.

Source: Iraqi News