Khalil escapes bomb explosion in central Iraq

The governor of Salahudin Province on Thursday escaped a roadside bomb explosion in central Iraq, a provincial security source said.

The roadside blast took place near the convoy of Ammar Jabur Khalil, governor of Salahudin, during his visit to al-Seniyah town in the north of the oil refinery town of Baiji, some 200 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, said Mohammed Khalil al-Bazi from Salahudin Operations Command.

The explosion wounded two bodyguards of the governor and badly damaged a vehicle in the convoy, Bazi said.

Meanwhile, a joint army and police force raided an IS hideout in Tulul al-Baj area near al-Seniyah and killed three IS militants, he added.

The IS militants are responsible for a series of attacks against civilians and security forces on the main road near Tulul al-Baj area, according to the security source.

The key cities of Salahudin Province, including Tikrit located some 170 km north of Baghdad, were captured by IS militants in June 2014, but the province was eventually freed by Iraqi security forces in major offensives.

On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of the country from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all areas once seized by the extremist group.

However, small IS groups and individuals have regrouped in desert and rugged areas, carrying out attacks against the security forces and civilians despite operations from time to time to hunt them down.