The attack occurred in the evening when IS militants launched a raid on an army outpost in the rugged terrain of Wadi al-Shay, located southwest of the provincial capital Kirkuk, Major Saad al-Obaidi from the police command of Kikruk province told Xinhua.

The troops at the outpost engaged in a fierce clash with the attackers and forced them to withdraw, al-Obaidi added.

The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.

(With UNI inputs)