VIDEO: Brain stroke kills Peshmerga 'IS Hunter' at 46

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Peshmerga Commander Major General Wahid Kovli who was known for his skills in hunting the fighters of the Islamic State (IS) died on Friday morning due to a stroke.

Kovli is one of the prominent Peshmerga Commanders that played a major role in the battle against the extremist group since June 2014.

His family in Duhok Province told Kurdistan24 that he passed away at 8 in the morning at the age of 46.

The Peshmerga commander left behind his wife and three children. He sustained several injuries while fighting against the IS on the Peshmerga front lines.

Kovli's two other brothers also lost their lives while fighting the IS .

Previously in an interview with Kurdistan24, he along with dozens of Peshmerga soldiers expressed readiness to donate their kidneys to the daughter of a Peshmerga whose life was at risk.

The Commander was born in 1971. He first voluntarily joined the battle against IS and was later promoted to be the Commander of Duhok Counter-terrorism forces.

Peshmerga who have liberated large swaths of territory in southern Kurdistan Region is one of the most effective ground troops in defeating the extremists.

According to Peshmerga Ministry statistics, since June 2014, over 1,500 Peshmerga soldiers have fallen and about 10,000 were injured while battling Jihadists.

Editing by Ava Homa