Iraqi minister of interior has criticized senior security officials in Kirkuk northern province for security gap and improper coordination and exchange of intelligence information as threats by ISIS were escalating lately in the southern outskirts of Kirkuk northern province.
Othman Al-Ghanimi on Monday paid a visit to Daquq, homeland of Kaka’i minority south of Kirkuk, and Kirkuk where he met security commanders as insurgency reemerged in the region. Lately attacks by the extremist Islamic group ISIS were targeting Iraqi police.
“The surge in Daesh activities particularly in Daquq was the main reason behind the minster’s trip,” a senior security commander anonymously told KirkukNow. The minister asked for reviewal and reorganization of the province security plan to fill in the security gaps, he added.
“Othman Al-Ghanimi said Daesh threats are alarming and he criticized the security forces for the security gaps and poor coordination and exchange of intelligence information so every body should play his role,” he added.
“Othman Al-Ghanimi said Daesh threats are alarming and he criticized the security forces for the security gaps and poor coordination and exchange of intelligence information so every body should play his role,” he added.
Ghanimi promised to send more troops to Kirkuk but he did not give any further details, the security source added.
Following his visit, an Iraqi soldier was killed by a bomb blast southwest of Daquq.
Iraqi minister of interior with Sa’ad Harbiya, commander of joint operations in Kirkuk on Feb. 15, 2021. Photo by ministry of interior media.
The fighters of the extremist group ISIS are regrouping south of Kirkuk and carry out operations against local police. On Feb. 11, IS fighters assaulted local police point in Arab Koy village south of Daquq, two policemen were killed and two were injured.
Daquq district, 44 southwest of Kirkuk is home for Kaka'i, or Yarsanism, a secretive monotheist spiritual religion which has not been officially recognized in the Iraqi constitution. The Kaka’i community and their villages are a target for extremist Islamic militants whom persecuted them as they accuse them of being defectors.
The Oil rich city of Kirkuk is home Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen. Baghdad and Erbil dispute over administration of the city despite outline map for the region under article 140 of Iraqi constitution. Currently Kirkuk joint operations’ command embraces Iraqi army, local and federal police and Popular Mobilization Forces PMF security of the province supported by Iraqi army.
Acting governor of Kirkuk said in a statement the minister was following up the security situation of Kirkuk and eradication of Daesh.
Daquq people criticized the minister for not meeting and consulting the locals to share their concerns and challenges. Rafid Jalal, member of Daquq seniors’ council, said that local administration with PMF and key figures “wanted to meet him face to face but he did was not ready to listen.”
Rafid Jalal, member of Daquq seniors’ council, said that local administration with PMF and key figures “wanted to meet him face to face but he did was not ready to listen.”
“Daquq is under threat more than anywhere else and we know what are our needs. We walked for more than two kilometers and stood in front of his car but he did not stop.”
Daquq district, 44 southwest of Kirkuk is home for Kaka'i, or Yarsanism, a secretive monotheist spiritual religion which has not been officially recognized in the Iraqi constitution. The Kaka’i community and their villages are a target for extremist Islamic militants whom persecuted them as they accuse them of being defectors.
