ISIS claims assassination of second Iraqi general in 10 days

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the killing on Tuesday of a top Iraqi commander in western Anbar province in an “ambush attack,” media affiliated with the extremist group announced. It is the second high-level commander in Iraq to be killed in less than two weeks.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the killing on Tuesday of a top Iraqi commander in western Anbar province by gunmen in an “ambush attack,” media affiliated with the extremist group announced. It is the second high-level commander in Iraq to be killed in less than two weeks.

On early Wednesday, military spokesperson Yehia Rasool announced the death of Brigadier General Ahmed al-Lami, who commanded the 7th Division of the Iraqi Army’s infantry forces.

Rasool added that the killing took place at a checkpoint in the city of Hit, some 180 kilometers (110 miles) west of Baghdad, and vowed to take the revenge on “this treacherous and cowardly act.”

Islamic State-affiliated media then posted on its Telegram page that fighters from the group had been behind the assassination, calling it an “ambush attack.” 

Last week, the terror group also claimed the responsibility for killing Brigadier General Ali Hameed Ghaidan, the commander of the Iraqi Army's 59th Brigade in Tarmiyah, 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Baghdad.

Read More: ISIS claims responsibility for killing Iraqi general outside Baghdad

The incident took place as Iraqi army forces continue offensives against remnants of the extremist organization that, since its territorial defeat in late 2017, have continued to stage regular attacks in several areas across Iraq, prominent among them territories disputed by Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Five months ago, Iraqi security forces began launching military operations in the face of mounting Islamic State attacks. In early February, military officials announced they had launched one among a series of large-scale military operations dubbed “Iraq’s Heroes,” the first among them taking place in western Iraq, near the borders of Syria and Jordan.

Read More: Iraq launches anti-ISIS operation to secure western border

On July 15, the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC)–established in 2017 and consisting of the United States and the six Gulf Arab states: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates–designated six entities or individuals as targets for their association with the Islamic State in efforts to limit sources of funding to the group.

Read More: US, Gulf Arabs impose sanctions on ISIS financiers

The Kurdistan Region announced on July 3 that a high delegation from the Ministry of Peshmerga met with officials from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense in Baghdad earlier that day to discuss security collaboration in the disputed territories, where the Islamic State has routinely taken advantage of the security vacuum to stage deadly attacks.

Read More: Peshmerga officials in Baghdad to develop joint operations in disputed territories 

Editing by John J. Catherine