Peshmerga put on alert as IS kills 10 Hashd al-Shaabi near Khanaqin

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces on Saturday were put on alert as Islamic State (IS) extremists attacked Hashd al-Shaabi forces near the Khanaqin area.

A Kurdistan24 reporter in Khanaqin said IS extremists attacked Hashd al-Shaabi forces in the Nada area on the Imam Ways-Khanaqin road killing at least 10 fighters.

The bodies of six Hashd al-Shaabi fighters were transferred to Khanaqin hospital in Diyala Province, the Kurdistan24 reporter revealed.

According to the reporter, an unknown number of Hashd al-Shaabi fighters were kidnapped by IS extremists.

Najmaddin Omer, a Peshmerga commander of the third brigade, told Kurdistan24 the Kurdish forces in the area were put on alert after the attack.

However, Omer mentioned the clashes were far from the Peshmerga front lines.

The Peshmerga commander added the Hashd al-Shaabi fighters were accused of stealing the property of people in the Nada area.

Last week, a Hashd al-Shaabi official warned against IS’ infiltration in the Diyala Province.

Uday al-Khidran, a Hashd al-Shaabi official speaking to local Iraqi media, said there was a possibility of IS infiltration in the areas controlled by the Iraqi forces.

Khidran added the infiltration might be because of the pressures and the military operations against insurgents in the Hamreen area.

He also said the victory of Iraqi forces against IS extremists could be another possibility.

In early February, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by IS detonated among a group of Hashd al-Shaabi forces in the town of Qaratapah in Diyala Province, killing one fighter and wounding three others.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany