ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least five Peshmerga, including a prominent commander, were wounded in a suicide attack by Islamic State (ISIS) militants on the frontlines in the southern Iraqi city of Kirkuk early Tuesday, a Kurdish commander told Rudaw. "At around 5:30 six suicide bombers attacked the Peshmerga, but their assault was foiled," said Brig. Swara Tofiq of the Peshmerga forces on the front, who said the assault was near the village of Graw. Mam Khafa, a prominent Peshmerga commander, is among the wounded, his son told Rudaw. Another soldier is in critical condition, according the Peshmerga. Tofiq added that the militants had taken advantage of bad weather to infiltrate the Peshmerga bunkers. Kamal Kirkuki, commander of the western front where Kirkuk is located, confirmed that "there are casualties among the Peshmerga, but no figure is out yet." He added that "there are still sporadic fire exchanges in the village of Graw." The frontlines south and west of Kirkuk have experienced major confrontations between ISIS and Kurdish forces in the last two years. But the Peshmerga are well prepared for such surprise attacks, said Kirkuki. Another major suicide attack by ISIS militants on Peshmerga defense lines south of Kirkuk was foiled Saturday morning, the frontline commander said. On Monday, Kurdish security forces announced they had captured the culprit behind Saturday's suicide bomb attack.
