ERBIL — Iraqi security forces on Sunday killed nearly 20 Islamic State (IS) militants, including a prominent leader, during an operation in the province of Anbar, according to an official.

The operation was launched in Akashat area jointly by the Counter-Terrorism Service, the National Intelligence Service, and the Joint Operations Command, Yehia Rasool, a spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces, said.

Clashes erupted between the Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants, resulting in the deaths of 17 insurgents, Rasool added, as cited by state media Iraqi News Agency.

This operation is the latest in a series of operations carried out by Iraqi security forces against the jihadist group. Last Friday, five dead bodies of IS militants were found in Salahaddin province following airstrikes carried out a day earlier.

The Security Media Cell at the time confirmed the report and noted that the security forces had also discovered various equipment belonging to IS militants during a search operation conducted at dawn on Friday on the outskirts of Wadi al-Azim.

IS insurgents continue to carry out sporadic attacks in different parts of Iraq despite losing their territories to the Iraqi security forces in 2017. However, the government has been making efforts to eliminate any remaining pockets of the extremist group in the country.