In an Islamic State group (IS) attack, which lasted four hours, an officer and a soldier of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) were killed, and another 11 soldiers were injured. The attack happened when the ISF confronted IS militants in western Daquq district, Kirkuk. A commander says, “the number of IS militants are not significant, but they carry out guerilla attacks.”
The clash erupted this afternoon, Monday, April 13, when the ISF launched an operation in Samaqa village, in Daquq, 44 southern Kirkuk.
A source from the ISF told KirkukNow, “the operation was a response to an attack in which unknown gunmen attacked the 45th brigade of ISF.”
“In the offesnsive, the security cameras were targeted, but no casualties were recorded,” he added
The ISF launched a counter-attack in the region, especially in Samaqa village southwestern Daquq. The source added that “ISF were attacked from four sides, and a tough confrontation took place.”
The confrontation lasted four hours, in which an officer and a soldier were killed, and 11 personals were injured.
“Due to the significant number of Daesh, ISF asked for help, and aircrafts started launching airstrikes against the Daesh militants. More ISF and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were deployed to the region.”
KirkukNow also learned that for IS militants were killed, and the ISF has controlled the area.
Khanaqin, Diyala Province, gunmen killed a father and his son and wounded nine persons, February 13, 2020. Photo: Amir Khanaqini
A source from Daquq General Hospital told KirkukNow, “four of the injured soldiers were transferred to Hospitals in Kirkuk due to the severity of their injuries.”
In the last two weeks, insurgent attacks and roadside and car bombs have targeted the ISF to the degree that only on April 10, 12 people were killed and injured in Kirkuk, Salahuddin, and Diyala province.
Last Saturday, the special 61st brigade announced the capture of “two IS members” in the city of Kirkuk. One of them was arrested in Rahim Awa Neighborhood, who was previously wanted by the Combating Violence Police.
A source from 61st brigade told KirkukNow that one of the arrestees was involved in the massacre of the Camp Speicher in 2014. He was also head a group of seven people.
The other one has “confessed” that he took part in gluing a bomb to a civilian car in Ghazra neighborhood, according to the source.
Abuzara Najar, commander of the southern base of PMF and deputy commander of the Joint Operations in Kirkuk, said, “the sleep cells of Daesh have been active due to security and political vacum, but in each region, their numbers do not reach 40 militants.”
He also reaffirmed that due to the spread of coronavirus, the security forces have focused on the other measures, and the IS militants have taken advantage of that and increased their activities.
KirkukNow earlier published that the insurgent attacks have increased due to the national coronavirus lockdown in the disputed areas.
