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Iraq
Iraqi soldiers monitor ISIS movements near Mount Qarachogh on December 22, 2019. Photo: Iraqi Defence Ministry
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Three members of Iraq’s security forces were killed in two separate attacks by Islamic State (ISIS) militants, days after 12 jihadis were killed by the Iraqi army near Makhmour as Kurdish intelligence officials warn that threats from the group are increasing.
An explosive device blew up, killing two and injuring three members of the Iraqi Security Forces on patrol on Salahiya village road in Saladin province, the forces’ media cell announced late on Tuesday.
The deaths followed an attack earlier in the day on an oil field in Kirkuk province. “One of the energy policemen – protecting North gas – was killed and two others were injured after they were attacked by ISIS militants at Khabaz field in Kirkuk province,” the media cell stated.
The policeman who was killed was a Kurd, Rudaw has learned.
ISIS seized control of swaths of Iraqi territory in summer 2014 and was declared defeated in December 2017 after an international military campaign against the group. Though they no longer hold territory, ISIS militants remain a security threat, especially in areas that are disputed between Erbil and Baghdad. A top Kurdish intelligence official told the BBC on Monday that ISIS militants are now more skilled and more dangerous than al-Qaeda.
"They have better techniques, better tactics and a lot more money at their disposal," said Lahur Talabany, head of Sulaimani-based Zanyari, the intelligence agency of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). "They are able to buy vehicles, weapons, food supplies and equipment. Technologically they're more savvy. It's more difficult to flush them out. So, they are like al-Qaeda on steroids."
Sirwan Barzani, Peshmerga commander on the Makhmour and Gwer fronts, told the BBC that ISIS is very active in the area.
"In the delta between the Great Zab and Tigris rivers we can say they are permanently there," he said. "There is too much activity from IS in the area close to the Tigris. Day by day we can see the movement of ISIS, and the activities."
Twelve militants were killed by the Iraqi army in the Makhmour area two days ago.
Iraq’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday that they were “monitoring and neutralizing” ISIS fighters around Makhmour’s Mount Qarachogh.
The 14th Brigade of the Iraqi Army “spotted a group of Daesh members riding motorcycles in Mount Qarachogh,” read the statement, using the Arabic acronym of ISIS. The militants tried to attack the soldiers who responded, killing eight ISIS fighters, the statement added.
Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Mustafa of the Peshmerga forces told Rudaw on Tuesday that Iraqi army was supported by Kurdish and Iraqi intelligence units. He put the number of ISIS deaths at 12 and said that two were identified as foreigners, “one from Syria and the other from Saudi Arabia. They were wanted by Iraqi army who had their photos as well.”
The Iraqi army said on Tuesday they discovered and removed 249 bombs in Makhmour, believed to be laid by ISIS.
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