00:44Iraq: 45 ISIS fighters reportedly killed in Iraqi army attack *GRAPHIC*
The Iraqi infantry celebrated a joint operation in which a reported 45 ISIS (Islamic State/Daesh) fighters were killed in the disputed territory north of Baghdad, Tuesday. Earlier in the day the Iraqi Air Force had bombed numerous positions around the Tigris River and the city of Samarra.
In early January ISIS had surrounded Samarra, which despite being a predominately Sunni city is home to one of Shia Islam's holiest sites; the al-Askari shrine. Since then a combination of Iraqi army forces and allied Shia militiamen, with the help of air strikes, have managed to halt ISIS' advance.
In 2006 the al-Askari shrine was destroyed by al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to ISIS. This act is broadly considered as one of the key events which triggered the subsequent sectarian violence. The reconstruction of the shrine has almost been completed, despite ISIS firing mortar shells within 15m (50ft) of its entrance.
00:44The Iraqi infantry celebrated a joint operation in which a reported 45 ISIS (Islamic State/Daesh) fighters were killed in the disputed territory north of Baghdad, Tuesday. Earlier in the day the Iraqi Air Force had bombed numerous positions around the Tigris River and the city of Samarra.
In early January ISIS had surrounded Samarra, which despite being a predominately Sunni city is home to one of Shia Islam's holiest sites; the al-Askari shrine. Since then a combination of Iraqi army forces and allied Shia militiamen, with the help of air strikes, have managed to halt ISIS' advance.
In 2006 the al-Askari shrine was destroyed by al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to ISIS. This act is broadly considered as one of the key events which triggered the subsequent sectarian violence. The reconstruction of the shrine has almost been completed, despite ISIS firing mortar shells within 15m (50ft) of its entrance.