ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi forces and its allied Shiite militia have driven Islamic State (ISIS) militants from the hills of Makhol and the Siniya district of Salahadin province and are now eyeing an advance into the townships of Rashad and Riyaz in Kirkuk province, an official said Sunday. “Iraqi security forces in coordination with Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraqi fighter jets advanced into ISIS-held territories and their next target appears to be the townships of Riyaz and Rashad that have long been held by ISIS,” said Karim Nuri, a spokesperson of the Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi. “We should seize the opportunity of an unexpected major collapse of ISIS’ military capabilities,” Nuri said. “I believe there is just one ISIS Chechen regiment remaining in Baiji town." Nuri believes ISIS cannot fight off recent Hashd al-Shaabi campaigns. “We have obtained ISIS communications saying they suffered shortages of ammunition and suicide bombers," he said. "They were calling for volunteer (bombers) and ammunition supplies." Nuri said there had been no coordination or cooperation in the raids with the US-led coalition forces, adding that Iraqi forces alone can fight ISIS because the group is now weak. “Iraqi jets and the army are enough to defeat ISIS,” he claimed.
Iraq28-09-2026US, coalition forces begin Erbil withdrawal as Iraq prepares to mark ‘sovereignty’: Government Spox
