Iraqi army forces on Sunday killed two militants and arrest a third, bringing an end to an attack by suspected members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on a university building in eastern Baghdad.
A unit of army Special Forces killed two militants wearing explosive belts who were holed up inside the Imam Kadhim University building and arrested a third, a security source, who asked to remain anonymous, told Anadolu Agency.
A fourth militant had earlier blown himself up inside the building, added the source.
The source said at least four people, including two security guards, were killed in the process and 11 others injured.
Government troops are currently besieging the university building in eastern Baghdad, added the source.
Suspected ISIL militants had stormed the building earlier in the day after blowing up the university entrance with an explosives-laden vehicle and killing five guards.
The ISIL has not claimed responsibility for the university attack.
For months, the Iraqi government has been battling ISIL – accused by authorities to be linked to al-Qaeda.
The Iraqi army has waged a major offensive in the Sunni-majority Anbar province since last December with the stated aim of flushing ISIL militants out of the key cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.
Hundreds of civilians have since been killed and injured, according to government officials.
Many local Sunni tribes opposed to Iraq's Shiite-dominated government continue to voice anger over the military operation's mounting civilian death toll.
By Aref Youssef
englishnews@aa.com.tr - Bağdat
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