BAGHDAD (Xinhua) - Iraqi forces killed six terrorists of the so-called Islamic State ( ISIS ), including a leader in the organization, with air strikes carried out near the Hamrin Mountains in northern Iraq.

The Counter-Terrorism Service stated in a statement today (Saturday) that the agency, in conjunction with the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency in the Ministry of Interior and the Iraqi Air Force, directed strikes at places where ISIS members are hiding near the Hamrin mountain range, indicating that the strikes were carried out after intelligence investigations and careful monitoring.

The statement indicated that the strikes resulted in the killing of six members of the organization, including what is known as "Abu Maryam al-Qahtani," the general administrator of the state of Salah al-Din, who was supervising assassinations and kidnappings of citizens and security forces by setting up fake checkpoints near the areas surrounding the Hamrin Mountains.

The Security Media Cell of the Joint Operations Command reported earlier today that the Iraqi Air Force planes launched air strikes based on intelligence information about the presence of important leaders of the terrorist organization (ISIS) in the Hamrin mountain range.

On December 9, 2017, Iraq announced the expulsion of ISIS and the imposition of full control over its lands, but sleeper cells affiliated with the organization are still active in some areas of the country, despite the security operations carried out by the Iraqi forces.