“Both ISF and our Coalition Forces are keenly aware ISIS is an adaptive and patient enemy,” UK Maj. Gen. Felix Gedney, the coalition’s deputy commander of strategy and support told Pentagon reporters on Wednesday.
The British general acknowledged Iraqi reports “of the arrest of multiple ISIS terrorists and clearance of more than 50 IEDs” in the mountains of Hamrin and the Hawija pocket.
“These have been a few examples of on-going efforts to find and eradicate ISIS militants,” said Gedney.
Hawija was the final ISIS-controlled area bordering the Kurdistan Region that was declared liberated by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on November 11.
Hamrin is a mountainous area about 80 kilometers southwest of Kirkuk city where local Kurdish Peshmerga commanders warn of being a location where ISIS fighters regroup after being ousted from Mosul.
The Kurdish officials voiced concerns both before and after ISF and their Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary forces pushed Kurdish Peshmerga out of Kirkuk and other disputed areas in October.
In nearby Kifri on Tuesday, Peshmerga and ISF had a brief standoff before reaching an agreement regarding jointly confronting ISIS militants in the area and ISF returning to its previous position.
Farhad Rafaat, the head of Crime Prevention Department in Khanaqin told Rudaw that “against ISIS, they are ready to support the Iraqi forces.”
The British general said in the press conference “we'll continue to train Peshmerga for as long as the government of Iraq want us to.”
“I've said, all parts of the Iraqi Security Forces, including the Peshmerga, played a hugely valuable role in defeating ISIS over the past years,” he added.
Abadi declared victory over ISIS on December 10.
“We know they may attempt to work in smaller cells and they most certainly will continue attempting their acts of terror whenever and wherever possible,” said Gedney.
The coalition told Rudaw English on December 21 that “1,000 ISIS terrorists” are estimated to remain in Iraq and Syria.
