Unidentified gunmen kill retired flying officer, south of Kirkuk

Kirkuk (iraqiNews.com) A retired flying officer, with a rank of colonel, has been killed by gunmen in south of Kirkuk, a security source from the province said on Thursday.

Speaking to Baghdad Today, the source said, “unknown gunmen opened fire in the evening against retired colonel Yassin abu Nour in the celebrations area, south of Kirkuk, which caused his immediate death.”

“Security troops cordoned off the accident spot and conducted investigations, while ambulance took the victim to forensic medicine department,” the source added.

Iraqi troops, backed by Popular Mobilization Forces, took over Kirkuk province from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters on Tuesday, fulfilling instructions made earlier by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to retake areas where sovereignty is disputed with Kurdistan Region’s Government.

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), which excludes security members deaths, said 196 civilians were killed, while 381 others were wounded due to violence and armed conflicts during the month of September. The fatalities included 10 foreign nationals. Baghdad was the most affected province with 37 deaths and 157 injuries. Dhi Qar province came in the second place with 82 killed and 93 injured. Anbar came in the third place with 20 killed and 46 injured.