Iraqi airstrike in Syria killed 36 IS militants: spokesman

A spokesman for Iraq's military said 36 Islamic State militants were killed in airstrikes in neighbouring Syria.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool said the Iraqi airstrikes hit a location where IS militants were meeting, among other targets. Rasool added six IS leaders were among the dead.

Thursday's strike was conducted on Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi's order "because of the danger they (the Islamic State) pose to Iraqi territory," a statement at the time said. The strikes were carried out in coordination with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, according to a Reuters report.

IS swept across large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in areas they controlled.

Syrian and Iraqi forces have since driven IS from nearly all the territory it once held, except for a small presence in the remote desert areas along the border.

Iraq has previously carried out airstrikes against the group in Syria.

Abadi declared final victory over the Islamic State in December. However, the hardline group continues to carry out ambushes, assassinations and bombings across Iraq.

Iraq currently has good relations with Iran and Russia, Assad's main backers in the seven-year Syrian civil war, while also enjoying strong support from the US-led coalition.

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