Iraqi airstrikes in Syria kill 36 IS militants

Iraqi airstrikes, mounted this week in Syria, have killed 36 Islamic State militants, an Iraqi military spokesman said Sunday.

"The strikes targeted positions of terrorist elements there, including a location for meeting of Daesh leaders," Iraqi army spokesman Brigadier Yehia Rasoul said."They resulted in the killing of 36 terrorists including leaders,"  Rasoul said, using the Arabic acronym of Islamic State. The official named six leading Islamic State militants in Syria among the fatalities, according to independent Iraqi portal Alsumaria News. Thursday's airstrikes, ordered by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, took place in Syria near the border with Iraq, according to al-Abadi's office. Baghdad said they were carried out in coordination with the Syrian government.Iraq mounted airstrikes against Islamic State targets inside Syria last year. In recent months, the radical group has suffered military setbacks in both countries.Baghdad declared victory over Islamic State in December with the help of a US-led alliance, having retaken all the territory captured by Islamic State in 2014 and 2015. Cells believed to be linked toIslamic State have since launched scattered attacks in different parts of Iraq.