Two IS members killed, eights others arrested in security operation in Kirkuk
Tanks of Iraqi army take part in an operation against Islamic State militants southeast of Mosul, Iraq November 26, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
“Security services in Kirkuk arrested eight suspects over involvement in counterfeiting official seals in Kirkuk,”Maj. Gen. Ali Fadel Umran, commander of Kirkuk Operations, said in a statement.
“An operation was launched to follow IS remnants who escaped toward north of Hawija, toward al-Zab region,” Umran said. “Two militants were killed, while eight others were arrested.”
The media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said, earlier today, in a statement that troops shot an IS fighter, known as Abu Hafsa, dead at a village Hawija town, west of Kirkuk.
Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said his country defeated Islamic State over the military level, but will declare final victory after desert areas are purged of militants.
Operations were launched in late September to liberate Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk, before Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced freeing the town in October.
In late October, operations were launched to liberate Qaim and Rawa towns, west of Anbar. Both have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic “Caliphate”.
A government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition has been fighting, since October 2016, the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul.