An Iraqi soldier and two al-Qaeda militants were killed during clashes east of Mosul, Iraqi police in Ninawa province said Thursday (January 12th).

Ninawa police spokesperson Lt. Col. Khalid al-Hamdani told Al-Shorfa that an army force engaged four militants while they were planting roadside bombs along a route the Iraqi army uses for convoys and patrols.

Al-Hamdani said after the clashes subsided, two militants, including a Syrian national, were dead. An Iraqi soldier later died of wounds he sustained during the clash.

Two other militants, both Iraqi citizens, were arrested, al-Hamdani said, adding that they are currently under investigation.