Iraqi artillery destroys ISIS hideouts powered by ‘solar panels’

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Iraqi artillery has destroyed at least three hideouts, powered by solar panels, in Saladin province, according to a statement.

The artillery shelling destroyed the “solar panels” along with the three hideouts located at Makhoul Mountains in Saladin’s Baiji district, a statement from the Iraqi General Directorate of Intelligence and Security on Wednesday.

The statement did not elaborate on whether any causality had been reported.

The Iraqi and Kurdistan Region security officials have previously said the terror group, whose self-styled caliphate was destroyed in 2017 in Iraq, has retreated mostly to the areas where there is a lack of security cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad.

The terrorists rely on remote hideouts and mountainous areas in the north, east, and west of the country to regroup and launch attacks on security and civilian targets.

The ISIS militants have recently killed at least 12 Iraqis, including members of the security forces, in separate attacks in both Nineveh and Saladin provinces.

Following the conclusion of the US-led Coalition's combat mission in late 2021, the Iraqi Air Force has increased its air campaign against the remnants of ISIS.

The terror group occupied approximately one-third of Iraq for nearly three years, including its second-largest city Mosul.

The Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga forces regularly conduct joint operations with the Iraqi forces against ISIS in the so-called "disputed territories" between Erbil and Baghdad, where the group is most active.