Iraqi, Peshmerga, coalition forces coordinate raid on ISIS near Makhmour

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — On the Makhmour Front, the Iraqi Security Forces, including the Peshmerga, are conducting operations on Monday to clear ISIS remnants.


"[At 3 a.m.] Global Coalition warplanes targeted ISIS positions on Mt. Qarachokh in Makhmour ahead of a multi-pronged Peshmerga-ISF ground operation coordinated through CJTFOIR," the Kurdistan Region Security Council tweeted on Monday morning.


It was not immediately clear if the operation would involve the joint deployment of Peshmerga and Iraqi forces. Previously, the Peshmerga have been used as a containing force to capture fleeing ISIS fighters.

"The joint operation will clear ISIS terrorists using the rough terrain as cover to organize and stage recent attacks. Further updates will follow," added the KRSC, which is headed by Masrour Barzani.

Mount Qarachogh lies near the town of Makhmour, around 60 kilometers southwest of Erbil.

Sirwan Barzani, the commander of the Peshmerga's Gwer-Makhmour Front, confirmed to Rudaw that the operation has been conducted in coordination with the coalition. 

 

He has previously explained the militants have set up small mobile checkpoints.

“I could say it has been successful,” said Barzani.

“We can't allow them to establish themselves near Peshmerga lines and attack Peshmerga again,” Barzani added.  

“According to unofficial information, 14 Daesh militants have been killed so far.”

Rudaw has learned that a Peshmerga captain named Aziz Bayiz was killed in the fighting and several others were wounded. 

Kurdistan Officers, a Facebook page run by Peshmerga, reported that four Peshmerga and an officer were killed in the operation.


Authorities have acknowledged that ISIS remnants have taken advantage of security vacuums between the frontlines of the Iraqi Security Forces to the south and Peshmerga to the north, especially in mountainous regions from Makhmour to Saladin.

 

There has been a recent uptick in the number of coalition air strikes in the Makhmour area.

 

Makhmour is a disputed or Kurdistani area that has been the security responsibility of the ISF since the federal takeover of the disputed areas on October 16.

 

In its weekly reports, the coalition announced "one strike destroyed one Daesh-held building" near Makhmour on July 8. On the same day there was an air strike on an ISIS tunnel near Kisik — between Mosul and Tal Afar.

 

On June 30, the coalition confirmed "one strike engaged one Daesh tactical unit and destroyed one Daesh-held building" near Makhmour.

 

Updated at 11:53 p.m.