Islamic State launches attack against Peshmerga troops in Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State militants have attacked the Kurdish Peshmerga troops in Kirkuk, a commander was quoted saying.

“IS launched an attack at al-Bou Mohamed village,” deputy commander of the troops, Firhad Kakai, told the Kurdish Rudaw network on Thursday. The attack was launched from four directions against troops deployed in Daquq.

“Clashes have been ongoing for half an hour,” Kakai said adding that “troops are in efforts to repel the attack without allowing the militants to advance.”

Peshmerga repulsed two attacks by IS earlier this month, which left three personnel killed and eight others wounded.

Peshmerga fighters have been part of the U.S.-backed military campaign to retake IS-held areas which launched in October.

Pivotal regions that link between each of Diyala, Salahuddin and Kirkuk are still held by the Islamic State posing threats to the liberated regions.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

A monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said 518 Iraqis were killed and injured during the month of July. Nineveh province was the most affected governorate with 233 casualties, Baghdad came next then Anbar.