Peshmerga personnel killed, injured as IS attack repelled southwest Kirkuk
Peshmerga troops.
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) A Peshmerga personnel was killed, while two others were injured on Tuesday as the troops foiled an attack by the Islamic State in Tuz Khurmatu city, southwest of Kirkuk, a Kurdish officer said.
“Peshmerga troops foiled a huge attack launched by the Islamic State militants against Zerka region in Tuz Khurmatu,” Col. Sankar Hassan told Anadolu news agency.
“The fierce confrontations lasted for several hours,” he added hinting that the U.S.-led coalition jets were backing Peshmerga.
“The attack left one personnel killed and two others wounded. Meanwhile, several IS militants were killed and injured,” Hassan said.
IS launched several attacks this month against Peshmerga troops deployed south of Tuz Khurmatu.
Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
According to a monthly count released by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, violence and armed conflicts left 824 Iraqis dead and wounded during the month of May.
Nineveh came on top of the most affected governorates with 354 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 470 injured. Baghdad came in second place with 86 victims and 22 injured. Anbar came third with a total of 136 casualties (47 killed and 89 injured).