BAWAPLLAWI, Kurdistan Region – Residents of 31 villages in the Khanaqin district have fled their homes, afraid of a resurgent ISIS. In one month, ISIS militants have attacked villages in the area 143 times. “The security in the Kurdish villages is not good. They are controlled by the Federal Police, and they never visit at night,” said Ghaidan Abdulrahman, a local official (mukhtar) in Bawapllawi. A year ago, 75 families lived in his village. Today, most of them are gone. The area is part of the disputed territories that came under Iraqi federal control in October 2017. The federal forces have struggled, however, to secure these villages, especially at night, and ISIS has taken advantage of security gaps between the Iraqis and the Peshmerga. Militants raid villages, and kidnap and kill residents. “You never feel safe to go out; our children will not be safe,” said a mother in the village. An estimated 300 militants are operating in the area, essentially having the run of the land at night. “This area is very empty. Iraqi forces cannot establish control over the area. The situation is too poor for people to live in the villages even near Khanaqin,” said local Peshmerga commander Kawa Mahmood. Iraq declared victory over ISIS a year ago, but the militant group remains a serious security threat. Iraqi, Peshmerga, and coalition forces regularly carry out operations against the militants.
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