The source, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that four other people were wounded in the attack on a combined force of PMF fighters and Iraqi Army soldiers on Monday night near Saadun village, which is located between Jalawla and Khanaqin.

One of the wounded was a soldier in the Iraqi Army, while the rest were part of the PMF, which is also known as the Hashd al-Shaabi, according to the source.

On Tuesday, the PMF and Iraqi security forces launched a search operation for the militants who carried out the attack.

IS militants use parts of the disputed areas as a base of operations to launch attacks on the security forces and civilians in the area. There have been a number of attacks in Diyala and Kirkuk governorates in recent months, including against the Peshmerga and federal units.

Two US service members were killed in an assault on IS militants hiding in a cave complex in Makhmour on Sunday.

Reporter’s code: 50101