Iraqi Air Force

An air strike in northern Iraq killed at least five pro-Iranian militants on Sunday, Iraqi security sources said, a day after Baghdad warned Washington against "attacks" on its territory.

The European indices, including CAC, DAX and FTSE, shed more than 1 per cent in early trades and Asian shares slipped after US air strikes killed a top Iranian commander, intensifying geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The air strikes killed the head of Iran's elite Quds Force and a top Iraqi militia leader at the Baghdad airport on Friday.

The Iraqi air force on Thursday carried out a "deadly raid" against positions of the ISIS group in neighbouring Syria, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said.

In December, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared "complete" victory over Islamic State militants after Iraqi forces backed by American advisers and air power clawed back major cities occupied by the extremists for years.

Iraqi forces Friday launched an assault on the northern town of Hawija, one of the last bastions in the country still held by the ISIS, which is also under attack in neighbouring Syria

The Iraqi air force struck members of the ISIS group inside neighbouring Syria on Friday, officials said, adding that the targeted militants were responsible for recent bombings in Baghdad.

The flames exploded into the sky like a volcanic eruption, blanketing a swath of the Iraqi countryside in a noxious haze of black smoke.

ISIS is using wooden replicas of tanks and Humvees in a bid to subvert an air campaign by the US-led military coalition supporting Iraqi forces in the Mosul operations, even using bearded mannequins to simulate terrorists.

Iraq's special forces entered the outskirts of Mosul on Tuesday and were advancing toward its more urban center despite fierce resistance by ISIS group fighters who hold the city, an Iraqi general said.

Fighting raged as Iraq's special forces began their assault on Mosul itself on Tuesday, part of operations to drive the ISIS group from the country's second largest city.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter has arrived in Iraq, saying US and coalition forces will use the newly retaken air base in Qayara (kee-AH'-rah) as a staging hub, as Iraqi security forces move closer to the long-awaited battle to recapture Mosul from ISIS terrorists.

More than 60 per cent of sorties against ISIS in Iraq are carried out by the nation's air forces and about 40 per cent by the US-led coalition, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Saturday.

US-led forces have killed 10 ISIS leaders in air strikes, including individuals linked to the Paris attacks, a US spokesman said, dealing a double blow to the militant group after Iraqi forces ousted it from the city of Ramadi.

The United States and its allies conducted 15 air strikes in Iraq and seven in Syria gainst ISIS on Saturday, the coalition leading the operations said.

Heavy rains wreaking havoc in Iraq have brought military operations to wrest the city of Ramadi back from the Islamic State group to a halt, senior army officers said today.

An air strike in northern Iraq killed at least five pro-Iranian militants on Sunday, Iraqi security sources said, a day after Baghdad warned Washington against "attacks" on its territory.

The European indices, including CAC, DAX and FTSE, shed more than 1 per cent in early trades and Asian shares slipped after US air strikes killed a top Iranian commander, intensifying geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The air strikes killed the head of Iran's elite Quds Force and a top Iraqi militia leader at the Baghdad airport on Friday.

The Iraqi air force on Thursday carried out a "deadly raid" against positions of the ISIS group in neighbouring Syria, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said.

In December, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared "complete" victory over Islamic State militants after Iraqi forces backed by American advisers and air power clawed back major cities occupied by the extremists for years.

Iraqi forces Friday launched an assault on the northern town of Hawija, one of the last bastions in the country still held by the ISIS, which is also under attack in neighbouring Syria

The Iraqi air force struck members of the ISIS group inside neighbouring Syria on Friday, officials said, adding that the targeted militants were responsible for recent bombings in Baghdad.

The flames exploded into the sky like a volcanic eruption, blanketing a swath of the Iraqi countryside in a noxious haze of black smoke.

ISIS is using wooden replicas of tanks and Humvees in a bid to subvert an air campaign by the US-led military coalition supporting Iraqi forces in the Mosul operations, even using bearded mannequins to simulate terrorists.

Iraq's special forces entered the outskirts of Mosul on Tuesday and were advancing toward its more urban center despite fierce resistance by ISIS group fighters who hold the city, an Iraqi general said.

Fighting raged as Iraq's special forces began their assault on Mosul itself on Tuesday, part of operations to drive the ISIS group from the country's second largest city.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter has arrived in Iraq, saying US and coalition forces will use the newly retaken air base in Qayara (kee-AH'-rah) as a staging hub, as Iraqi security forces move closer to the long-awaited battle to recapture Mosul from ISIS terrorists.

More than 60 per cent of sorties against ISIS in Iraq are carried out by the nation's air forces and about 40 per cent by the US-led coalition, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Saturday.

US-led forces have killed 10 ISIS leaders in air strikes, including individuals linked to the Paris attacks, a US spokesman said, dealing a double blow to the militant group after Iraqi forces ousted it from the city of Ramadi.

The United States and its allies conducted 15 air strikes in Iraq and seven in Syria gainst ISIS on Saturday, the coalition leading the operations said.

Heavy rains wreaking havoc in Iraq have brought military operations to wrest the city of Ramadi back from the Islamic State group to a halt, senior army officers said today.