Three policemen and a soldier were killed in the central Iraq yesterday Saturday, during battles with jihadists of the Islamic State (ISIS), security forces officers announced, clarifying that operations are still ongoing.

The fighting, part of operations against the jihadists in Diyala province, broke out in the Khan Bani Saad sector, about 40 kilometers north of the capital, Baghdad.

Speaking of an operation in “difficult terrain”, an information center representing the Iraqi security forces emphasized in a statement that a “group of terrorists” had been “surrounded”.

“Clashes” resulted in casualties to both the jihadists and the security forces, continues the announcement, which does not give a specific account, while emphasizing that the clearing operations continue.

A police spokesman told AFP that a soldier and three police officers, including an officer, had been killed “in the ongoing clashes with Daesh”, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.

It also reported at least three dead in the ranks of the jihadists.

After its strengthening and lightning advance in 2014, when it had seized vast sectors of the territory of Iraq and neighboring Syria, IS saw its self-proclaimed “caliphate” collapse, receiving multiple attacks in both countries.

But even though Iraqi authorities declared “victory” over IS in late 2017, jihadist cells continue to launch sporadic attacks against the military and police, particularly in rural and remote areas far from major cities.

A UN report released in January referred to “estimates” that IS forces in Iraq and Syria “cumulatively” number “between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters”.

In Iraq, jihadist activity remains “very limited”, according to the same source, as Iraqi forces were able to “target” their members and “disrupt dormant cores” and “networks” that provided them with hideouts and supplies.

However, according to the United Nations report, the jihadist group is still “carrying out sporadic attacks and reorganizing its ranks and leadership.”

It manages to “maintain its administrative structures” and manage “structures in the provinces”, as well as “strengthen its communication and security architecture” in order to “limit casualties among its leaders and prevent intrusions”.