IS surrounded in Hawija, says Peshmerga Commander

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Kurdish Peshmerga Commander, Wasta Rasul stated on Wednesday that Iraqi forces can cooperate with Peshmerga in Kirkuk Province in northern Iraq in order to liberate the town of Hawija, in south Kirkuk.

On Wednesday, Rasul, stationed along the south Kirkuk front line told Kurdistan24 TV that it is now easy to liberate Hawija from the Islamic State (IS).

"I can tell Daesh [IS] is already on the verge of falling in Hawija. Peshmerga forces are about 35 kilometers [22 miles] away from Hawija on the east side, and Iraqi forces are about 30 kilometers [19 miles] away from the town, from Hamrin Mountain on the southwest side. When Peshmerga and Iraqi Army start attacking the militants in Hawija, they will be suppressed by fire from the southwest, east, and sky [US-led coalition airstrikes]," he said.

After this weeks' liberation of Ramadi, more Iraqi forces are available to participate in retaking Hawija, according to Rasul.

"If the Iraqi forces cooperate with the Kurdistan Region leadership, Peshmerga can assist them in clearing Hawija from Daesh [IS]," he added.

Rasul noted that on Wednesday evening, warplanes targeted jihadist bases inside Hawija for several hours. "I can’t confirm if they were the US-coalition warplanes or Iraqi, but they heavily shelled the area."

He also rejected the rumors that Peshmerga forces entered Hawija and advanced with aerial support from the coalition's warplanes.

On Tuesday, Iraqi security forces and Shia Militia Hashd al-Shaabi liberated Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar Province, in western Iraq. Following the most recent liberation, Iraqi Prime Minister, Haidar Abadi visited the city and stated that Iraqi forces will continue liberating other IS-occupied territories in Iraq.