BAGHDAD, July 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of four Islamic State (IS) militants were killed and three others captured when Iraqi security forces raided two IS hideouts in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, a provincial security source said.

Acting on intelligence reports, a security force ambushed two IS militants in Baladrouz area, and killed them near the provincial capital Baquba, some 65 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Major Alaa al-Saadi, from Diyala Operations Command, told Xinhua.

The troops also seized the weapons of the two and their motorcycle, Saadi said.

Meanwhile, a joint force from the Counter-Terrorism Service and military intelligence set an ambush for IS militants in the volatile al-Nida area, some 50 km east of Baquba, and killed two local leaders of the extremist IS group, Saadi said.

Also in the province, the security forces captured three suspected wanted for terror charges in Bani Saad area, some 25 km south of Baquba, Saadi added.

Despite repeated military operations in Diyala province, remnants of IS militants were still hiding in rugged areas near the border with Iran, as well as the sprawling areas extending from western part of Diyala to Himreen mountainous area in the northern part of the province.

On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of Iraq from the IS. However, small groups of IS militants have since regrouped in rugged areas, carrying out attacks against security forces and civilians from time to time.