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Iraq forces release hostages, capture IS commander

Xinhua, October 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Iraqi special forces conducted a rescue operation in northern Iraq, during which they captured an Islamic State (IS) field commander and released a number of hostages, an official told Xinhua on Thursday.

With support of a drone, the soldiers on board five Chinook helicopters raided on Wednesday night an IS command and a prison at a village east of Hawijah town in the Salahudin province, said Jasim al-Jbara, head of the security committee of Salahudin's provincial council.

The special forces captured several IS militants, including Abu Omer who led the IS network in Hawijah, and released a number of hostages, he said.

Jbara could not identify the special forces, but media reports said Thursday that Iraqi special forces led by U.S. advisers conducted a hostage rescue operation, during which 70 Kurdish hostages were released and one American adviser was killed.

There are about 3,500 U.S. troops in Iraq who trained and assisted Iraqi military to fight against the IS, many of whom are stationed in the western province of Anbar. Endit