ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s prime minister has ordered counter-terrorism forces to carry out special operations against terror cells, reacting to escalating deadly ISIS attacks on armed forces and civilians. In a meeting with counter-terror commanders in Baghdad on Thursday, Haider al-Abadi ordered “special and qualitative operations to pursue terrorist cells and retaliate against them,” his office detailed in a statement. There have been multiple reports recently of ISIS militants attacking and taking control of villages, killing and abducting civilians and armed forces, and conducting attacks in Kirkuk, Diyala, and Saladin provinces and along the Kirkuk-Baghdad road. The head of an Iranian-backed militia reacted to Abadi’s order, suggesting a joint deployment of all Iraqi forces. “The real solution is for the commander-in-chief to activate joint operations and mobilization of the Army, Federal Police, Hashd al-Shaabi, and Counter-Terrorism Service along with the air force to conduct exact surveying and clearance of all the previously cleared areas. We support this,” tweeted Qais al-Khazali, head of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, a few minutes after Abadi’s office published the statement. He made no mention of the Peshmerga forces. The commander of Diyala operations, however, said they have requested the Peshmerga be included in a joint operation. “We have requested the joint operations command conduct a military operation with the involvement of Peshmerga in order to strengthen the security of those areas east of Saladin and north of Diyala where ISIS has begun mobilization and activities that recently resulted in killing and abduction,” commander Mazhar Azzazi told Rudaw. He said his command has good cooperation with the Kurdish forces and are awaiting approval from above. The Peshmerga have not received any notice regarding upcoming operations. “We have not received anything official regarding launching of joint operation with Iraqi forces so far," Sheikh Jafar Mustafa, commander of 70th brigade of Peshmerga forces, told Rudaw. If they do receive such a request, they will discuss it with the Ministry of Peshmerga and general commander of Peshmerga, he added. The area is under is under the control of Iraqi federal forces and Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries. Kurdish leaders and locals have called for the return of the Kurdish force to the areas they left last October when Iraqi forces took control of the disputed areas. With the fall of Mosul, some ISIS fighters fled to the Hamrin mountains that span the border of Kirkuk and Saladin provinces. The area has long been a favourite of militants because it is difficult to secure. Abadi insisted that ISIS does not control any territory in the country, but are hiding out in the mountainous areas. As head of the armed forces, Abadi told his counter-terror chiefs that the people of Iraq “have trust” in their abilities. A day earlier, Abadi had promised to take action to address the security threat after the bodies of eight people, at least six of whom were security force members, were found killed on the Kirkuk-Baghdad Road. “We have patrols on the road, but as you know terrorists have plans,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday.
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