WATCH: Iraqi warplanes target IS position in Syria

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi jets shelled an Islamic State (IS) explosive factory and other positions in Syria in a rare cross-border operation, the Iraqi military said on Thursday.

Iraqi F-16 jets targeted IS militants near the city of Hajin in coordination with the Syrian government, an Iraqi military spokesperson said.

Both the Syrian and Iraqi governments have been fighting the jihadist group since its emergence in 2014 after it took over large swaths of territory in the two fragile countries.

“We are carrying out airstrikes on Daesh on Syrian soil because of the danger IS poses to Iraq, and is also proof of the improved capabilities of our armed forces,” the Iraqi military said in a statement, using the pejorative Arabic acronym for IS.

This operation was planned and carried out by the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, with intelligence support from the US-led coalition, according to the statement.

Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated that his country would “take all necessary measures [against IS] if they threaten the security of Iraq.” The jihadist group, just three years ago, overran a third of Iraq.

Abadi declared final victory over IS in December, but the extremist group still poses a threat to different parts of the country as it carries out ambushes, assassinations, and bombings.

In 2017, Iraqi jets carried out at least one strike on IS targets inside Syria, also in coordination with the coalition and with the approval of the Syrian government.

Baghdad has good relations with Iran and Russia, the Syrian Regime’s main backers in the seven-year-old Syrian civil war, while also enjoying strong support from the coalition.

Editing by Nadia Riva