Baghdad, Oct 2 (IANS): Four soldiers were killed and three others wounded on Wednesday in an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, according to the Iraqi Interior Ministry.

An army force was ambushed by IS militants at 10:00 am local time (0700 GMT) while conducting a reconnaissance and inspection operation in the western part of Kirkuk, ministry spokesman Muqdad Miri said in a statement.

According to Miri, clashes erupted between the troops and IS militants, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers and injuries to three others.

He added that reinforcements and air support arrived at the scene, and security forces initiated an investigation into the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.