Soldier dies in IS attack in Iraq

Baghdad: An Iraqi soldier was killed and another wounded in an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants on a military base in Iraq’s northern province of Kirkuk. Major Saad al-Obaidi of the Kirkuk provincial police command told Xinhua news agency, ‘The attack took place on Friday evening, when IS militants attacked an army post in the rugged area of Wadi al-Shay, southwest of the provincial capital Kirkuk. attacked.’ Al-Obaidi said that soldiers at the checkpoint had a fierce clash with the attackers and were forced to retreat, Xinhua news agency reported. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of IS in 2017. However, remnants of IS have penetrated into urban centres, deserts and rugged terrain and are carrying out frequent guerrilla attacks against security forces and civilians.