Iran news agency reports death of Iranian fighter in clashes against Islamic State in Iraq
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An Iranian news agency is reporting the death of an Iranian fighter during a battle with the Islamic State group in Iraq.
Tuesday's report by the semi-official Fars agency identifies the fighter as Mohammad Hadi Zolfaghari. It says he died fighting "terrorists" in Samarra, a city located 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad.
It describes him as a "defender of Shiite holy sites," of which there are many in Iraq. Samarra is also home to a major Shiite shrine. The report did not elaborate.
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Shiite Iran says it has sent military advisers to assist Iraq and Syria in battling the Sunni militants but denies sending combat forces.
In December, a senior commander in Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard was killed during a battle against the Islamic State, also near Samarra.