Peshmerga Dismantle ISIS Hideouts in Qarachogh
Peshmerga forces destroyed ISIS hideouts on Mount Qarachogh, where militants exploit a security vacuum. Officials and residents call for coordination with the Iraqi army to secure the area and prevent further ISIS activity.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In response to an increase in ISIS activity in the security gap between its forces and the Iraqi army—from Khanaqin in Diyala to western Nineveh—the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga Forces have destroyed several militant hideouts in an operation on Mount Qarachogh.
In addition to securing areas under their control, Peshmerga forces continuously conduct operations to counter ISIS, which has exploited the security gap to establish hideouts. During a recent operation on the mountain, forces seized some of the militants' equipment.
Brigadier Fatih Gawradayi, Deputy Commander of the Kirkuk Axis of the Peshmerga Forces, stated that a security vacuum was created following "the events of Oct. 16" when the Peshmerga withdrew from parts of the area. He noted that coordination with the Iraqi army is a potential solution to fill this gap.
"From their side, the Peshmerga forces in those areas have tried to prevent the movement of ISIS remnants," Gawradayi said.
Residents of villages near the vacuum, such as Khosh Aw at the foot of Mount Qarachogh, have also called for the gap to be filled. Villager Bahram Muhammad, who runs a small shop, said that while the security situation is stable due to the Peshmerga's presence, the vacuum remains a problem.
"The security vacuum and the situation in Iraq are the reasons for the continued presence of ISIS militants and the expansion of their activities," Muhammad stated.
