Two Iraqi jourlists killed by IS

Baghdad, July 7: Two Iraqi jourlists were killed and a third was injured while covering fierce clashes between the Islamic State militants and Iraqi forces in Salahudin province on Friday, a security source said. Reporter Su’dad Faris and photographer Harb Hazza’ from Hu Salahudin satellite channel were killed at Imam Gharbi village near Shirqat town, some 280 km from Baghdad, Xinhua news agency quoted the source as saying.

The village was the scene of a fierce battle after IS militants took control of it on Thursday. The Iraqi forces were engaged in heavy clashes to regain control of the village, the source said. The three jourlists were surrounded and ambushed by the extremist militants at a compound in the village with some security members, the source said, adding that troops were fighting to free the village and the besieged group inside.

The third reporter with the group was injured and still hiding in the compound with a fourth one, along with an officer from Salahudin provincial media office, the source added. Imam Gharbi village was freed from the IS during the troops advance earlier this year, but dozens of IS militants came from the desert area early on Thursday and took control of the village, the source said.

The Iraqi Jourlists’ Syndicate said in a report that up to 14 jourlists were killed in 2016, and more than 455 jourlists have been killed in the country since the US-led invasion in 2003. (IANS)