Iraqi forces killed 12 Daesh terrorists in two separate security sweeps carried out in the northern and western parts of the country, local security sources said Wednesday.

Axar.az reports citing Anadolu Agency.

Kirkuk Police Commander Hamed al-Obeidi told Anadolu Agency that Iraqi troops had killed five Daesh militants in the Hawija district, located southwest of the northern city of Kirkuk.

“Based on intelligence we received, security forces ambushed a vehicle carrying five Daesh terrorists, all of whom were killed,” he said.

In the western Anbar province, meanwhile, Iraqi troops backed by armed tribesmen killed seven terrorists in a security sweep carried out in the Hit district, Army Colonel Walid al-Dulaimi told Anadolu Agency.

“Army forces killed the terrorists after they entered a tunnel in the Wadi Gaal region in the desert area near Hit,” he said, adding that army forces had later found numerous explosive devices inside the tunnel.

Late last year, officials in Baghdad declared that Daesh's military presence in Iraq had been all but destroyed.

It appears the notorious terrorist group, however, still maintains “sleeper cells” in certain parts of the country.