ISIS terrorists are shelling villages south of Kirkuk
Islamic State (ISIS) remnants fired at least five mortar shells at the village of Topzawa in Daquq, an area south of Kirkuk, on Thursday night, and attempted an armed ground assault, according to local sources.
This is the latest in a series of mortar attacks on villages in the Daquq area in recent days, indicating an uptick in militant activity in the disputed territory.
Although ISIS has not claimed responsibility for any of the recent attacks, locals believes remnants of the group operating in the disputed territories are responsible.
“Late on Thursday night, ISIS shelled Topzawa village with at least five mortars,” Rajab Kakei, head of the Daquq-based Mitra Organization for the Development of Yarsani Culture, told Rudaw English on Friday.
“The mortars didn’t hit any houses or properties inside the village, but around four ISIS individuals started to shoot at the houses, which was believed to be a ground attack by ISIS militants.”
“Fortunately local Kakais responded to the attackers and the individuals left the village,” Kakei said.
The Kakais are a distinct ethnic group in the disputed province of Kirkuk.
The shooting lasted for around 20 minutes. There are no reports of casualties and it is unclear why the militants chose to target the village. Kakei claims federal police stationed in the area failed to respond.
Shiekh Lewis Sindi, the mayor of Daquq, confirmed the Iraqi federal police have two brigades in Daquq to provide security for the town.
“Iraqi federal police have bases near every Kakei village in Daquq,” Sindi told Rudaw English on Friday.
“We believe the mortars are originated from the Wadi al-Shay area southwest of Daquq town, since the area is full of ISIS militants,” he added, without providing details.
Federal police were accused on Wednesday of killing nine members of the same family in the Daquq area after mistaking them for ISIS fighters, after militants shelled another village in the area.
The Kurdish Peshmerga withdrew from Kirkuk province in October 2017 after the Iraqi army, supported by Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitias, seized the disputed territories.
Security gaps which have since opened up between Peshmerga and Iraqi lines have allowed ISIS remnants to regroup and to move unrestricted. Kirkuk is among several areas to experience deteriorating security and a resurgence of militant activity.
Iraq’s former prime minister Haider al-Abadi declared the defeat of ISIS in Iraq in December 2017 following the liberation of Mosul and other urban centres controlled by the jihadist group.
However, Iraqi and coalition forces now admit ISIS militants and sleeper cells are making a comeback in parts of Iraq, reverting to their earlier guerrilla insurgency tactics.
Iraqi PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi launched the “Will of Victory” operation against ISIS remnants and sleeper cells in Anbar, Mosul, and Saladin on July 7.
The Iraqi security media cell announced the end of the first phase of the operation last Saturday.
The second phase of the operation was focused around areas north of Baghdad and concluded on Wednesday.
ISIS remnants have enjoyed a security gap of up to 40 km in some places between the lines of rival armed forces and militias.
Talks are underway between Erbil and Baghdad to resume security cooperation in the disputed territories to try and stop the ISIS resurgence.
Source: Rudaw
