Islamic State militants die booby-trapping donkey in Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Eight Islamic State militants were killed and wounded when explosives they were fitting to a donkey exploded in Kirkuk, a security source was quoted saying.

The source told Alsumaria News that eight militants were putting an explosives vest on a donkey at al-Rashad region, 40 kilometers southwest of Kirkuk, preparing to send it to security deployments in Hamreen mountains.

The boobytrap exploded prematurely, however, killing three and wounding five, according to the source who said the new technique aims at avoiding strikes by Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition warplanes.

Islamic State militants have held areas in southwestern Kirkuk since 2014, when they declared a “caliphate” rule on a third of Iraq and Syria.

Local tribal leaders and politicians from Kirkuk have mounted pressure on the Iraqi government to hasten with invading Hawija, suggesting that its people were experiencing a humanitarian crisis under the group’s rule as the group continues to massacre civilians attempting to flee the town. The government and military commanders have set Nineveh’s town of Tal Afar as the next target for operations.