Mosul (Iraq), Sep 8 (IANS/EFE): Iraqi aircraft early Monday carried out strikes on strongholds of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist organisation in and around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, authorities said.

A security source in Mosul said the planes hit IS headquarters in the Mohandseen neighbourhood, north of the city, killing and injuring many militants.

The bombardment also caused serious damage to the headquarters building.

According to the source, the forensic medicine department at a Mosul hospital received five bodies of IS members killed in the raids.

Iraq has been the scene of heavy fighting since the IS burst across the border with Syria in June and seized large areas of the country, slaughtering Shia Muslims and religious minorities.

The IS's offensive has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

The US and other Western nations have poured in military and humanitarian aid to stem the militants' advance towards Iraqi Kurdistan.

The IS announced in June the establishment of an "Islamic caliphate" in the areas under its control in Syria and Iraq.