Kurdish Peshmerga forces, volunteer fighters clash with ISIS southwest of Kirkuk

(IraqiNews.com) A security source in Kirkuk province announced Wednesday, that the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, backed by volunteer fighters (known as al-Hashd al-Sha’bi forces), have clashed with ISIS elements in southern and western the province.

The source said in an interview for IraqiNews.com, “A large force of the Kurdish Peshmerga backed by volunteer fighters clashed today with ISIS elements in Taza and Rashad districts in Kirkuk.”

The source, who requested anonymity, added, “The Peshmerga forces used artillery and mortar shells to bomb ISIS sites in the two areas.”

The Secretary-General of Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri confirmed on Sunday (February 8, 2015) that the military plans to liberate the southwestern areas of Kirkuk province are finished, indicating that the process will coincide with the Salahuddin operations and Peshmerga forces’ operations so as to advance towards Mosul and free it from ISIS.