Iraqi forces, US-led coalition kill dozens of IS militants in separate operations

The US-led coalition on Sunday announced Iraqi forces, with the support of the coalition troops, killed dozens of Islamic State (IS) militants in operations across different parts of northern Iraq.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The US-led coalition on Sunday announced Iraqi forces, with the support of the coalition troops, killed dozens of Islamic State (IS) militants in operations across different parts of northern Iraq.

On Oct. 30, Iraqi security forces and Iraqi Counter-terrorism services, supported by the coalition, conducted multiple strikes against IS targets on Khanukah Mountain in Salahuddin Province, resulting in the death of five senior jihadist leaders and more than 30 other militants, according to the statement released by the coalition on Sunday.

“The Daesh [IS] leaders killed in the strike were responsible for overseeing operations conducted within Salah ad Din [Salahuddin], Kirkuk, Ninewah [Nineveh] and northern Anbar provinces.”

Followers of the extremist group “helped coordinate vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks” in Sharqat and Qayarrah that injured civilians, in addition to numerous attacks targeting Iraqi security forces, civilians, and infrastructure in the Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces, the coalition added.

On Oct. 31 in the Makhmour Mountains, a joint operation involving Iraqi Special Operations Forces and coalition troops killed approximately 20 IS insurgents.

“The operation consisted of airstrikes followed by a ground attack by Iraqi Special Operations Forces,” the coalition added in another statement.

“This successful strike conducted by the ISF [Iraqi security forces] disrupts ISIS networks as they continue to maintain the pressure required to prevent their resurgence,” said Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, Commander of Special Operations Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.

Despite Iraq declaring a final victory against the extremist group last December, IS continues to launch sporadic attacks, including bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings in previously liberated areas. 

The number of the jihadist attacks in Iraq has considerably increased, namely after tensions arose between the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Iraqi forces following the military takeover by Iraqi security forces and Shia militias of Kirkuk and other disputed territories in Oct. 2017.

Recently, the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) released its statistics on the number of IS attacks in Kirkuk and Mosul.

“Tracked security incidents from October signals a reemergence of VBIED-based attacks in Kirkuk and Mosul. Targeted assassinations against mokhtars [Village heads] and attacks on electricity infrastructure continued unabated,” KRSC stated in a tweet.

Editing by Nadia Riva