Iraqi personnel killed, injured in IS attack, west of Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Six Iraqi personnel were killed and injured as Islamic State militants attacked joint troops deployed in villages, west of Kirkuk, a military source said.

“A group of IS militants attacked troops of the Iraqi army’s 60th division,” the source told Alghad Press on Monday.

The attack, according to the source, “was carried out near Qaysouma and al-Wardiya villages, in al-Abbassi. The attackers were between 30-40 IS militants.”

The confrontations are still ongoing, the source said, adding that so far two army personnel were killed and two others from al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces] were injured.

Earlier this month, the Joint Operations Command announced concluding the second phase of Hawija offensive, killing 385 IS members, including five snipers. 150 villages in Hawija were freed, in addition to al-Abbassi region and the northern side of the town.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi previously declared liberation of Hawija. The second phase of the offensive was launched in late September.

According to Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell, 557 IS militants were killed, while more than 100 villages and regions were liberated during the first phase, which launched on September 24th.

Iraqi troops managed to retake several IS strongholds including Mosul and Tal Afar in Nineveh, Hawija in Kirkuk and Annah in Anbar. Only Qaim and neighboring Rawa currently remain in IS grip.