Iraqi police, pro-gov’t fighters hunt for Islamic State militants in Kirkuk
Kirkuk (Iraqinews.com) – Iraqi police, backed by pro-government fighters, started on Sunday a security operation to purge villages located in southwestern the oil-rich Kirkuk province from Islamic State (IS) militants.
According to a military statement published by Sputnik, the security operation was launched “upon accurate intelligence reports to purge villages in Riyad district, southwest of Kirkuk, from Islamic State militants.”
Federal police, backed by Iraqi warplanes and fighters of the 2nd, 11th, 16th and 41st brigades of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) are taking part in the operation.
“Intelligence reports indicated that many IS militants are hiding at villages in Riyad district as they plan to carry out terrorist attacks there,” the statement read.
Kirkuk officials previously urged reinforcing military troops in the south and west of the province, as the region still has Islamic State members who escaped during the liberation of Hawija to remote areas.
Two farmers killed in bomb explosion in Iraq’s Kirkuk
Kirkuk (Iraqinews.com) – Two farmers were killed Sunday after an explosive charge left over by Islamic State (IS) militants went off in Kirkuk province, a security source was quoted as saying.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IKH News that a bomb “believed to be planted by defeated IS militants went off on the outskirts of Hawija district in southwestern Kirkuk.”
“The explosion left two passing-by farms killed as they were close to the blast site,” the source said, adding that a security force immediately rushed to the explosion site and started combing the area in search for any other bombs.
According to the source, the bodies of the two slain farmers were carried to the forensic medicine department.
”Tens” of suspects arrested over links to Islamic State, southwest of Kirkuk
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) The pro-government paramilitary troops have announced arresting tens of suspects over doubts of belonging to the Islamic State, during operations carried out in southwestern Kirkuk, spokesperson said on Sunday.
Speaking to the Russian Sputnik agency, Ali al-Husseini, spokesperson of the northern axis of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces), said “the target behind the operation is following IS remnants in southwest of Kirkuk in the wake of several armed attacks against the troops deployed there recently.”
“Tens of suspects were arrested, while rest houses were destroyed. Huge amounts of weapons were confiscated,” he added.
The operation, according to Husseini, was carried out in collaboration of the Federal Police and the Iraqi fighter jets. He said that the operation is likely to end within few hours.
Iraqi security troops announced, earlier today, the launch of offensives to purge several regions in Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk.
Commander says attackers of security troops in east of Kirkuk arrested
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi security troops have arrested the perpetrators of the terrorist operation that targeted Counter-Terrorism Service troops, east of Kirkuk, a commander announced.
In a statement on Sunday, Maj. Gen. Maan al-Saadi, commander of the CTS special operations, “separatists attacked on Friday the CTS patrol in east of Kirkuk, which was in charge of securing one of the headquarters of the Turkmen Front, which left one soldier killed and another injured.”
“Troops managed to arrest two of the perpetrators, who are being interrogated,” he said adding that they confessed to attacking troops as well as the headquarters.
Two other separatists managed to run away, according to Saadi.
Three Iraqi security personnel were killed and injured on Friday as the headquarters of the Turkmen Front, east of Kirkuk, was targeted by unidentified gunmen using RPGs.
Fifteen people killed, injured in Islamic State attack on Kirkuk-Baghdad road
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Fifteen civilians were killed and injured as Islamic State militants set up a checkpoint on the road between Baghdad and Kirkuk, a security source was quoted saying.
Speaking to Baghdad Today, the source said, “IS members set up an ambush between villages of Maftool and Sarha on the road linking between Kirkuk and Baghdad. They targeted civilians, leaving fifteen people killed and injured.”
No further details were provided.
“Among the victims were the brother of Amerli police department chief,” another source said, adding that he was “on the way coming back from vacation in Baghdad.”
“Five members of the family of Mohamed Hashem, photojournalist with Huna Salahuddin, were killed in the attack,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.