Tens of Islamic State militants killed in airstrikes in south Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Tens of Islamic State militants were killed, while a workshop for vehicles booby-trapping were destroyed as Iraqi jets launched airstrikes that targeted the group’s haven in southwest of Kirkuk, according to the military media.

A statement by the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said, “based on information from the Joint Operations Command’s, Iraqi fighter jets carried out several airstrikes that left a workshop used for booby-trapping vehicles, two weapon stashes and a rest house destroyed in Hawija.”

“The air raids also left tens of militants killed and several booby-trapped vehicles and weapons destroyed,” it added.

Earlier this week, the group lost three of his main leaders in Kirkuk during September during accurate air raids that targeted its rest houses and camps in Hawija or regions in its vicinity, according to Jabar al-Maamouri, a paramilitary official.

Hawija and other neighboring regions, west of Kirkuk, have been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. The group executed dozens of civilians and security members there, forcing thousands to flee homes.

Further reinforcements from the Federal Police were sent earlier this month from Baghdad to the town, as the military command declared, late August, the end of operations in Tal Afar, the militants’ last haven west of Nineveh, and the approach of the launch of offensives for Hawija.