BAGHDAD, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi soldier was killed and another wounded in a shooting incident in southern Iraq's Maysan province on Saturday, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The incident occurred during a "surprise inspection" checkpoint in the al-Kahla area, which was set up "to maintain security and arrest wanted individuals," the ministry said.
A pickup truck carrying four people refused to stop at the checkpoint and changed its course abruptly. When security forces pursued the vehicle, the suspects opened fire on the troops, which resulted in "the killing of one of the soldiers and the injury of another," the ministry said.
In response, security forces encircled the area, arrested the perpetrators, and seized their weapons and the vehicle used, it said.
Sporadic deadly clashes remain a persistent challenge in Iraq, fueled by the widespread availability of weapons, a legacy of decades of conflict, including the 2003 U.S. invasion and the war against the Islamic State group. These clashes continue to undermine local security even as the country experiences broader relative stability. ■
