51 IS militants killed in air strikes and attacks in Iraq

A total of 51 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in air strikes and clashes with Iraqi security forces in Iraq's central province of Salahudin on Thursday, a provincial security source said.
In early hours of the day, dozens of IS militants, who have captured part of the town of Dhuluiyah, some 90 km north of Baghdad, carried out an attack on the northwestern part of the town which is under control of the Sunni tribe of Jubour, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Iraqi security forces backed by allied Jubour tribesmen repelled the attackers after hours of fierce clashes, leaving at least eight militants dead, the source said.
Meanwhile, Iraqi warplanes and helicopter gunships provided air support for the security and tribal forces and destroyed several positions of the IS extremist group in and around Dhuluiyah, leaving some 35 militants killed and destroying 12 vehicles carrying heavy machine guns, the source added.
Some helicopters made attack at the IS militants when they opened fire on several boats in the nearby Tigris River to surprise the defenders from the southern side of the town, destroying five boats and killing at least eight militants, he said.
Jubour tribesmen and local police have been fighting against IS militants for months, and repelled many attacks by the extremist group that once seized the town but was driven out.