Brigadier Sarhad Qadir, chief of Kirkuk’s suburban police told Rudaw that they had orders for the men’s arrest and kept them in sight until it was made sure they were planning an attack on the oil wells.
“The four suspected men were trying to reorganize their terrorist activities in that region using a car,” said Brig. Qadir, pointing to two oil wells in the distance still burning from an attack last month.
In two weeks of continued operations police and security forces in Kirkuk have arrested an ISIS Amir, 24 militants and more than 40 suspects believed to be affiliated with ISIS.
Qadir Hussein, deputy commander of the special Black Force—that is carrying out these raids--said the raids were to secure the rear of the Peshmerga defense lines before the final attack on Hawija.
“We need to clean up these areas behind us before moving forward to Hawija, because there are suspects and wanted people here. ISIS gunmen must be driven out of these areas otherwise they can attack us when we are moving forward to Hawija,” Hussein explained.
Peshmerga forces have in recent months moved beyond 11 villages previously held by ISIS in their gradual approach to Hawija.
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