Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Baghdad

Islamic State executioner kidnapped in Kirkuk: security source

 Islamic State executioner kidnapped in Kirkuk: security source

Members of the Islamic State. File photo.

Members of the Islamic State. File photo.
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Unknown gunmen kidnapped on Saturday a leading member of the Islamic State at the center of the town of Hawija, one of the remaining IS pockets in the province.

News reports quoted the sources as saying that the armed group, boarding a civilian vehicle, kidnapped the militant, nicknamed Abu Tayba al-Anbari, who oversaw a series of executions of prisoners held by the group on Friday in Hawija.

Several instances of Islamic State members assassinations have been reported in some group strongholds in Iraq over the past few weeks.

The group took over several Iraqi cities in 2014 to proclaim a self-styled “Islamic Caliphate”, but a major campaign since October, carried out by Iraqi security forces and popular militias, and backed by US-led advisers and troops, has forced the group to cede much territory, most notably the city of Mosul, its last urban stronghold in Iraq and its previously-proclaimed capital. Nearly 3300 group members were killed since operations launched, according to Iraqi army commanders.

The group has tried to make up for losses and to distract security forces with attacks on civilians and troops at other provinces, especially in Baghdad, Anbar and Salahuddin.

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