Islamic State attack leave casualties among security personnel, civilians in Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Twelve people were killed and injured in an attack carried out by Islamic State members in southwest of Kirkuk, a security source said on Monday.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said “a terrorist group attacked, early today, a checkpoint of Tribal Mobilization Forces near Qurret Tabah village, which resulted in wounding some of them.”

Later, “a bomb went off targeting the medics, which killed two of them and injuring ten, most of whom were civilians,” he added.

“Federal police troops cordoned off the blast scene. The victims were taken to forensic medicine department, while the injured were taken to hospital,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.

Meanwhile, security sources were quoted by Shafaq News website as saying that the attack left two personnel of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) killed, while four others were injured.

Another security source said civilians were likely to have been kidnapped by the militant group.

Moreover, a statement by the media service of PMFs said troops “along with Federal Police repelled an attack, today, by 20 militants in Qurret Tabah village.”

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced, in December, full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.