Five Islamic State members killed in checkpoint by paramilitaries, southwest Kirkuk
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Five Islamic State members were killed in a security checkpoint, southwest of Kirkuk, the pro-government paramilitary troops said on Wednesday.
A statement by the media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said, “Intelligence of the 16th brigade, part of the northern axis forces, set up an ambush for Islamic State militants in a village in al-Rashad town, southwest of Kirkuk.”
The operation, according to the statement, “left five Islamic State members killed. Two of them were recognized. They were senior leaders Ali Jamil Hussein and Duham Jaishi Mutallak, who is the nephew of the IS Emir there in the region.”
Pro-gov’t troops deny Pentagon’s remarks over Peshmerga accessing Kirkuk
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) The pro-government paramilitary troops have denied news that Kurdish troops accessed Kirkuk province, saying that remarks made by the Pentagon is an attempt to stir controversy among people in the province.
“Security troops, along with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) are fully in control of Kirkuk province,” Ali al-Husseini, spokesperson for the PMFs in the northern axis, told Almaalomah website on Wednesday. “Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Joint Operation, visited Kirkuk today and highlighted necessity to preserve security there.”
“The recent remarks by Pentagon over Peshmerga accessing Kirkuk are incorrect,” Husseini said. “What was circulated is an attempt to stir controversy among people in Kirkuk.”
News reports quoted a source from U.S. Pentagon, earlier today, as saying that special forces of Peshmerga accessed Kirkuk, after coordination with Baghdad.