Three Islamic State members killed in infiltration attempt into south of Kirkuk
Security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State during sand storm in Ramadi. (AP Photo)
Speaking to Almaalomah website, the source said “al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) thwarted, today, an infiltration attempt by Islamic State members near al-Riyad town, south of Kirkuk. Three militants were trying to sneak into the town, but they were all killed.”
PMFs as well as other security troops, are still deployed there to prevent any infiltration, the source added.
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.