Three Hashd fighters killed in anti-ISIS op near Tuz Khurmatu

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraqi army on Saturday launched an operation against ISIS sleeper cells in the west of Amirli town and Ghaza area south of Khurmatu. Three Hashd Shaabi soldiers were killed after a suicide bomber detonated.

Ali Hashimi, the spokesperson for Hashd al-Shaabi in Khurmatu, told Rudaw that an ISIS bomber blew himself up near Hashd and Iraqi forces in the Ghaza area, killing 3 Hashd forces who residents of Amirli, and injuring 11 more from Hashd and federal police, rapid response and army.

“The area is broad and ISIS has regrouped. They should be destroyed so that they can’t destabilize the area,” he said.

Amirli is 170 kilometers southeast of Erbil and just south of Tuz Khurmatu and near Suleyman Beg.

“Hashd al-Shaabi brigades on Saturday morning started a search for ISIS remnants south of Khurmatu, 80 km south of Kirkuk,” read a statement from Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries as the operation began.

“Iraqi federal police forces and rapid response forces are taking part in the operation, supported by the army’s air forces,” they added.

Officials have complained of a deteriorating security situation in Kirkuk and its surroundings.

Iraqi security forces and Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi took control of many of the disputed or Kurdistani areas claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil in October 2017.

Three Hashd fighters killed in anti-ISIS op near Tuz Khurmatu

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