IS militants attack US military base in northern Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Four Islamic State (IS) militants launched a failed attack late Saturday night on a US military base in the Makhmour area in northern Iraq.

At 12:00 am local time, four suicide bombers approached a US military base near the village of Pungene, south of Makhmour and north of the IS-held town of Hawija.

As the militants approached, US military forces opened fire on the jihadists, according to Ziryan Sheikh Wasan, the Peshmerga Commander for the Makhmour front.

Speaking to Kurdistan 24, Wasan said the IS militants detonate themselves once they realized they could no longer advance on the military base.

No casualties were sustained in the attack other than the jihadists.

The US artillery base in the Makhmour area was recently installed in preparation for the Hawija operation. It will be used to shell IS in Hawija and provide support to forces involved in the liberation process.

Makhmour has been under the control of the Peshmerga forces since 2014. Peshmerga commanders and Kurdish officials have long affirmed they will participate in the Hawija operations, some 20 kilometers south of Makhmour.

No statement has yet been issued by the Americans in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region