Iraqi jets strike Daesh positions in Syria: Premier Abadi

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says Iraqi fighter jets have pounded the positions of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in Syria.

“We are determined to chase terrorism that tries to kill our sons and citizens wherever it is found, so we gave orders to the air force command to strike Daesh positions in Hosaiba and Albu Kamal inside Syrian territory,” Abadi said in a statement on Friday.

The Iraqi premier added that the targets were connected with recent deadly explosions in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

“The heroes of the sky executed the operation and responded to the terrorists with amazing success,” Abadi said.

A security official, who asked not to be named, said it was the first time Iraqi warplanes had bombed Daesh targets in Syria.

A source close to the Syrian Foreign Ministry said the airstrikes were conducted in “complete coordination” with the Damascus government.

Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said in a separate statement that the F16 fighter jets destroyed Daesh positions and headquarters in Hosaiba and Albu Kamal on Friday morning.

A top security official said the airstrike targeted the terrorists’ “headquarters used for making car bombs in Albu Kamal… after Iraqi intelligence received tips from their sources inside Syria.”

Iraqi forces are engaged in an operation to liberate Mosul, which is the last stronghold of Daesh in the Arab country.

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by gruesome violence ever since Daesh mounted an offensive in the country in June 2014.