Iraqi forces target IS commanders in Syria

The strike targeted a position used by the commanders of the group, south of the town of Deshaisha, the statement said.

The Iraqi air force has already carried out several air strikes against the group in Syria since last year, with the approval of the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad and the US-led coalition fighting IS.

An air strike late last month killed 36 militants including six IS leaders, Baghdad said. 

IS swept across large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in areas they controlled.

Abadi declared final victory over the hard-line group in December but it still poses a threat from pockets along the border with Syria and has continued to carry out ambushes, assassinations and bombings across Iraq.

On Saturday, local tribe leaders in Iraq said IS fighters are hiding out in the deserts of Anbar province disguised as police officers and shepherds to elude security officers and launch pre-election attacks.

The Iraq Report is a weekly feature at The New Arab.