KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region – Islamic State militants and Shiite militia were locked in an intense exchange of artillery fire on Friday on the outskirts of the predominantly Shiite town of Taza southern Kirkuk including Bashir village. “Our bombardment is a response to ISIS shelling which was intensely launched on the town of Taza,” Ali Husseini, media officer of the Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi's Abbasi division, told Rudaw. Husseini added that “To stop ISIS from bombing Bashir village, the Abbasi artillery division has sent large reinforcement to the frontlines.” Peshmerga forces in the area are for their part on alert for any possibility of the spillover of clashes between ISIS and the Shiite militia. “[Peshmerga] forces are on alert and we have not started any bombings, it is only Hashd al-Shaabi and ISIS exchanging artillery fire,” Brig. Taha Raza, told Rudaw, adding that “warplanes form the US-led coalition are seen in the sky of the area.” Raza revealed that ISIS has brought in reinforcements to villages close to Peshmerga fronts.
Kurdistan29-08-2026President Barzani, German consul general discuss Iraq, terrorism, political process
