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Jordan raids: Eight killed in Irbid as forces battle 'outlaws' Jordan raid: Eight killed in Irbid as forces 'foil IS plot'
(about 1 hour later)
A Jordanian security officer and seven "outlaws" have been killed in armed clashes in the northern city of Irbid, a government spokesman says. Jordan says a raid in the city of Irbid that left seven suspected jihadist militants dead foiled attacks being plotted by so-called Islamic State.
Four officers were also injured in fighting triggered by raids, reportedly targeting jihadists, that began on Tuesday night and ended before dawn. Those killed were planning to blow up civilian and military targets in the country, according to the General Intelligence Directorate (GID).
One security source said the targets were Islamic State (IS) sympathisers. A security officer was also killed and five were injured during the overnight raid, which triggered armed clashes.
Jordan is part of a US-led military coalition against the group, which is based in neighbouring Syria and Iraq. Jordan is part of a US-led coalition battling IS fighters in Syria and Iraq.
The kingdom launched air strikes on IS positions in Syria in September 2014, to ensure the "stability and security" of its borders. It launched air strikes on IS positions in Syria in 2014 to ensure the "stability and security" of its borders, and has stepped up a crackdown on suspected IS sympathisers inside the kingdom.
The overnight operation in Irbid, which is 20km (12 miles) from the Syrian border, was reportedly one of the largest against suspected jihadist cells in years. Last year, Jordan executed two convicted jihadists following the killing of a Jordanian pilot who was captured by IS militants after his jet crashed in Syria.
Government spokesman Mohammad Momani told the Public Security Department's Amen radio station that the raids started at around 19:00 (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday and lasted until 03:00 on Wednesday, according to the Jordan Times newspaper. The operation in Irbid, which is 20km (12 miles) from the Syrian border, was reportedly one of the largest targeting suspected jihadists in years.
Mr Momani described the targets of the raids as "outlaws". Government spokesman Mohammad Momani told the public security department's Amen radio station that the raid started at around 19:00 (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday and lasted until 03:00 on Wednesday, according to the Jordan Times newspaper.
He did not elaborate, but separately told the Associated Press in a text message that they were part of a "terrorist group". Mr Momani described those targeted as "outlaws".
A security source told the Reuters news agency that they were mainly members of IS or sympathisers, and that they had been holed up in a residential building near a Palestinian refugee camp in the centre of Irbid. Later, the official Petra news agency published a statement by the GID, which said it had thwarted a plot by an IS cell to attack "civilian and military sites in order to destabilise national security".
At least 30 suspects were also arrested in the operation, the source added. Security forces tracked the suspected militants to a residential building in Irbid, which security sources said was near a Palestinian refugee camp in the city centre.
"The terrorists refused to surrender and put up strong resistance using automatic weapons," the GID said, adding those killed were wearing explosive belts.
Weapons, ammunition, explosives and detonators were also found at the scene.
The GID said 13 people linked to the cell were detained in earlier raids in Irbid.