IS places families of leaders under house arrest, southwest of Kirkuk

Hawija (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State has placed families of some leaders and members under house arrest, southwest of Kirkuk, a local source said.

“IS militants in Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk, placed around 40 families of the group leaders and fighters from the so-called Diyala State under house arrest,” the source from the province told AlSumaria News on Saturday.

“What happened indicates the conflicts occurring among IS leaders, who started infighting due to the deep disputes. It’s considered as an important step toward ending the group,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.

Security officials say tens of IS families in Diyala State headed to Hawija after losing the cities they controlled after June 2014.

On Friday, many IS members from Haija and others in Abbassi region, southwest of Kirkuk, were reportedly killed and injured due to infighting over disagreements regarding the distribution of ranks and allegiance to Baghdadi.

Hawija has been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. The group executed dozens of civilians and security members there, forcing thousands to flee homes.

Dozens of residents from Hawija and the regions in its vicinity escape to Kirkuk province on a daily basis. Despite the risky routes to the freed regions, the civilians prefer death to staying under IS control.