Islamic State behind deadly Jordan raid, planned more attacks

Jordanian intelligence say that seven men killed in a shootout with troops had ties to the Islamic State group and had planned attacks on military and civilian targets in the kingdom.

The arrest raid took place late Tuesday in the northern city of Irbid.

Security forces tracked the suspected militants to a residential building in Irbid, and troops opened fire with automatic weapons after the fugitives refused to surrender, according to the intelligence service.

Seven wanted men wearing explosives belts were killed, along with a member of the security forces, it says. Weapons and explosives were found at the scene. The statement says 13 men linked to the same group were detained in previous raids in Irbid, but did not say when those arrests took place.

The Irbid raids began late Tuesday. City resident Abdullah Nashwan said he heard the sound of shooting, and that security forces cut off power to parts of the city during the raids.

— AP