MOUNT QARACHOGH, Kurdistan Region — Kurdish Peshmerga have continued the fight against ISIS in areas between the front lines of Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces, losing one soldier on Tuesday outside of Makhmur.
"They were nearly 12 militants who had initially watched this post. We chased them from here," said Maj. Idris, a Peshmerga commander, who took a wound in the shoulder after being shot by an ISIS fighter.
"They were nearly 12 militants who had initially watched this post. We chased them from here," said Maj. Idris, a Peshmerga commander, who took a wound in the shoulder after being shot by an ISIS fighter.
The Peshmerga generals told Rudaw they were trying to arrest the ISIS militants, which is why the fighting was at such close quarters.
"I ran out of grenades," said Idris. "So I hit him with rocks."
Another commander, Gen. Sirwan Barzani who is the Peshmerga commander of the Makhmur-Gwer front, said five ISIS militants were killed. He initially estimated there were up against about 25 militants.
One Kurdish Peshmerga died repelling the attack. Rudaw was later told his name, Rawan Sulaiman.
The fighting happened in the Qaraj Plains near Qarachugh Mountain outside of Makhmur, southwest of Erbil.
The Iraqi forces and the Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi took control of Makhmur in mid-October following a military incursion into the disputed or Kurdistani areas claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad.
Iraq announced the total defeat of ISIS in the country earlier this month after driving out the last pockets of the extremist group near the Syrian border.
Many ISIS militants have hidden themselves in the caves of the mountain, according to the Peshmerga.
"[Prime Minister Haider al-] Abadi very unfortunately made a big lie," said Peshmerga Maj. Gen. Zirian. "We just had [another] a fight with ISIS militants, six of their bodies were left behind. Two of them blew themselves up.
"Unfortunately, Abadi is saying that ISIS has now ended in Iraq."
“Current estimates are that there are less than 3,000 Daesh fighters left; they still remain a threat, but we will continue to support our partner forces to defeat them,” wrote US Army Col. Ryan Dillon in a Dec. 6 tweet.
"I ran out of grenades," said Idris. "So I hit him with rocks."
Another commander, Gen. Sirwan Barzani who is the Peshmerga commander of the Makhmur-Gwer front, said five ISIS militants were killed. He initially estimated there were up against about 25 militants.
One Kurdish Peshmerga died repelling the attack. Rudaw was later told his name, Rawan Sulaiman.
The fighting happened in the Qaraj Plains near Qarachugh Mountain outside of Makhmur, southwest of Erbil.
The Iraqi forces and the Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi took control of Makhmur in mid-October following a military incursion into the disputed or Kurdistani areas claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad.
Iraq announced the total defeat of ISIS in the country earlier this month after driving out the last pockets of the extremist group near the Syrian border.
Many ISIS militants have hidden themselves in the caves of the mountain, according to the Peshmerga.
"[Prime Minister Haider al-] Abadi very unfortunately made a big lie," said Peshmerga Maj. Gen. Zirian. "We just had [another] a fight with ISIS militants, six of their bodies were left behind. Two of them blew themselves up.
"Unfortunately, Abadi is saying that ISIS has now ended in Iraq."
The US-led Coalition to Defeat ISIS has acknowledged that a large number of ISIS fighters remain.
“Current estimates are that there are less than 3,000 Daesh fighters left; they still remain a threat, but we will continue to support our partner forces to defeat them,” wrote US Army Col. Ryan Dillon in a Dec. 6 tweet.
Last updated 12:49 p.m. on December 20, 2017
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