Islamic State’s military council leader killed in confrontations, south of Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) A prominent Islamic State leader has been killed during confrontations, south of Kirkuk, a security source from the province said on Tuesday.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said “residents of al-Doksh village, located between Taza and al-Rashad towns managed to blow up one of the prominent Islamic State leaders, known as Mulla Nuzad al-Jawali, as they were cooperating with mobilization forces.”

Jawali, according to the source, who preferred anonymity, “is one of the leaders of the front line at the group’s military council. He works along with other leaders who carry out abduction and attacks against villages and roads.”

Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.

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.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.