Security forces identifies Islamic State newly-inaugurated Kurdish emir on Salahuddin borders
Islamic State militants (representational photo)
“Intelligence managed to reveal the identity of IS emir in Mutaibija basin, called Najm Abdullah Kawkaz al-Kurdi,” the source told AlSumaria News.
On Tuesday, a source was quoted saying that IS inaugurated for the first time one of its Kurdish leaders as an emir at Mutaibija.
In related news, Diyala Police said “security forces carried out, today, an operation in Mutaibija.”
In a statement, the command said, “the operation destroyed three rest houses of the militants and blown up for bombs.”
Earlier this week, Jabbar al-Maamouri, senior leader with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said in remarks that the militant group executed some of its members in Salahuddin province for refusing to carry out suicide attacks.
Mutaibija has complicated terrain, with numerous hills that serve as a good hideout for militants. Occasional attacks have been witnessed there by Islamic State against government and paramilitary troops deployments since Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and PMUs, launched a major offensive to retake areas occupied by IS since 2014.
In December, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.