Islamic State execute senior leader for fleeing Kirkuk stronghold

Islamic State militants have executed a senior leader for attempting to flee the group’s stronghold in southwestern Kirkuk, a local source was quoted saying on Friday.

Iraqi news website SNG quoted the source saying that the so-nicknamed “Abu Qatada al-Muhajir” was executed after he was accused for “fleeing the land of the Caliphate”.

According to the source, al-Muhajir was a top brass member and was in charge of recruiting Arab fighters. “He held the nationality of a neighboring country, and had possessed lots of information about Islamic State leaders and the group’s suicide squads.

The execution was carried out at an Islamic Sate-run court on the outskirts of Hawija, the source said.

Islamic State has executed several members since Iraqi forces launched in 2016 a wide-scale operation to retake areas held by the group since 2014. Members were commonly executed for slack battlefield performance, treason and attempting to flee the group’s strongholds.

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command said late August its upcoming battle would target Hawija. So far, operations by the government troops have managed to recapture Mosul, Islamic State’s former capital, as well as Tal Afar town, west of Mosul.

Source: Iraqi News