Hashd al-Shaabi says anti-IS operation in Kirkuk to start amid rising terror attacks

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s Shia militias on Tuesday said they would be launching a multi-pronged military operation against sleeper cells of the Islamic State (IS) in the south and southwest of Kirkuk.

The announcement comes a day after IS attacked police forces stationed in remote villages south of the city of Khanaqin, northeast of Diyala province.

This is the latest move by the Hashd al-Shaabi militias, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in English, against remnants of the terrorist organization in liberated areas.

IS activity has increased recently, with regular insurgency-style attacks, ambushes, bombings, and kidnappings taking place in liberated and disputed areas despite Baghdad declaring final victory against the extremist group over a year ago.

Since the Oct. 16 military takeover of the disputed province by Iraqi forces and Shia militias in response to the Kurdistan Region’s controversial independence referendum, Kirkuk has been witnessing heightened instability and insecurity.

The area was previously under the protection of Kurdish Peshmerga forces, who fought alongside Iraqi security forces to drive out IS, but were eventually driven out in an assault that have affected efforts against the lasting defeat of the group. 

The Hashd al-Shaabi began an “extensive security operation” aimed at clearing the vast desert areas between the towns of al-Bashir and al-Rashad in the southwest of Kirkuk Province, and the village of al-Zarka in the province of Salahuddin, the Iran-backed militia group said in a statement.

The group added, that “based on accurate intelligence,” they will aim to target “terrorist sleeper cells that exploit the natural conditions of the mountains and valleys” from which they target “security [forces] in the areas between Kirkuk and Salahuddin.”

Hours before the announcement, IS attacked Iraqi federal police officers in the predominantly Kurdish city of Khanaqin to the southeast of Kirkuk city.

A security source in Khanaqin told Kurdistan 24 the attack on Monday night killed five policemen.

He added that a lieutenant colonel, along with four accompanying officers, was killed after an explosive device detonated on their vehicle in a village south of Khanaqin.

Editing by Nadia Riva