(Photo: Agency)

BAGHDAD, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Artillery shelling attacks killed Saturday an Islamic State (IS) leader in Baquba, capital of Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, a local security source said.

Sadiq al-Husseini, head of the security committee in Diyala provincial council, told Xinhua that head of the IS motorcycle contingents was killed in Himreen mountains some 56 km northeast Baquba in artillery shelling carried out by paramilitary Hashid Shaabi.

"The shelling came after an accurate intelligence report indicating where the militants had gathered. The leader was responsible for many activities including providing hosts and transportation for the militants in Himreen mountain area," al-Husseini added.

The security situation in Iraq has been dramatically improved after Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist IS militants across the country late in 2017.

However, small groups and individuals of extremist militants melted or regrouped in urban and rugged areas, and have been carrying out attacks against the security forces and civilians despite operations from time to time to hunt them down.