Iraq's Ministry of Defense announced Monday that at least 89 militants have been killed in a military campaign to drive Islamic State (IS) militants out of areas near Baghdad. "To clear up areas around Baghdad, the Iraqi army launched a series of attacks on IS positions in Al Shortan, Hora, Al Qanatir, Ibrahim bin Ali, and Dijla areas," the Ministry stated. At least 14 IS armored vehicles have been destroyed, according to the statement, as Iraqi forces defused nearly 14 mines and cleared at least 29 houses. The Kurdish Peshmerga forces recaptured several villages south of Kirkuk with support from the international coalition's air strikes. The Iraqi joint forces are moving ahead to retake areas overrun by IS militants in Saladin province.
