Islamic State claims responsibility for killing 20 Iraqi security personnel in Kirkuk
Islamic State militants. File photo.
According to Amaq website, the group’s media arm, “IS members killed 20 Iraqi security personnel and burnt five vehicles in an ambush on Sunday evening, southwest of al-Riyad town in Kirkuk.”
In related news, Ali al-Husseini, commander of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) in the northern axis, said some PMFs are likely to be alive hiding.
Earlier today, the troops announced murder of 27 personnel in the wake of an attack by IS militants at al-Saadouniya village in Riyad.
“The region is completely cordoned. Searching efforts are ongoing. The accident took place while it was raining. It was in the dark. We need more hours to know if there are personnel still alive. Maybe some of them are captured or hiding,” Husseini told Shafaq News without giving details on the number.
Most of the signs, according to Husseini, “indicate that some elements are still hiding without being captured by IS.”
He also added that the militant group did not announce captivating any of them.
PMFs, along with Federal Police, launched on Monday an offensive near Kirkuk.
News reports said on Sunday evening that security troops lost communication with 24 paramilitary personnel in addition to losing track of eight vehicles in Hawija. Other reports indicated confrontations between PMFs and Islamic State members in southwest of the province.