Islamic State’s videographer killed in operation in Kirkuk
Iraqi security forces launch a major operation to stem out IS cells
Speaking to Shafaq News, the sources said security troops managed in an operation to kill a militant tasked with shooting videos for Islamic State, known as Abu Mariam al-Iraqi, who is the group’s media official in Kirkuk. The operation was carried out, based on accurate intelligence information about his presence in one of the villages in Kirkuk.
Security troops confiscated several computers and videos for Islamic State at the place, where abu Mariam was killed, according to the sources.
On Tuesday, residents of a village, south of Kirkuk, managed to blow up one of the prominent Islamic State leaders, known as Mulla Nuzad al-Jawali, as they were cooperating with mobilization forces. He was one of the leaders of the front line at the group’s military council. He worked along with other leaders who carry out abduction and attacks against villages and roads.
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.