"Iraqi F-16 jets carried out a successful air strike that targeted a meeting of Daesh leaders … in the Hajin area within Syrian territory. The operation resulted in the complete destruction of the targets, and the killing of around 45 terrorists," a Iraqi military statement reads, using the Arabic acronym of the IS.

According to the army, those killed in the attack included an IS "deputy war minister," one of its "media emirs," Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's personal courier and IS's chief of police, Sputnik reported.

The successful military advance comes in the wake of recent achievements in the area: earlier in June, the Iraqi Air Force destroyed an IS command center in the eastern Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor.

Last month, the Iraqi prime minister vowed that the country would "take all necessary measures if they threaten the security of Iraq," referring to the militants.

Reporter’s code: 50101