Two suspected ISIS militants arrested in Kirkuk province
KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region – Kurdish security officials in Kirkuk have announced the arrest of two suspected ISIS militants in the town of Daquq, one of whom they state was the son of the head of a local Al-Qaeda branch.
“Following information gathering and close monitoring, our forces arrested two ISIS militants in an operation inside the town of Daquq,” read a statement issued by Kirkuk’s security force Asayesh on Thursday.
“The name of one of them is M. S. J. who is from the township of Ryaz. He had been a militant for three years and worked with ISIS intelligence. He had taken part in most wars against the Peshmerga and security establishments. The father of the said terrorist was head of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in Hamrin area, Hawija,” the statement added.
The Hamrin mountains, running along Kirkuk’s southwestern border, are believed to now be the hideout of many ISIS militants and leadership who fled Mosul and Tal Afar.
The name of the other militant is “Z. A. H., who is from the township of al-Abbasi. This terrorist had worked in the making and planting of bombs for three years in Hawija. Aside from himself, his father and three of his brothers were ISIS militants. Two of his brothers were killed in the fight against the Peshmerga forces,” the statement detailed.
“These two ISIS militants had mingled with Hawija IDPs and settled in Daquq area a few weeks ago,” the statement explained.
The military offensive to oust ISIS from the Hawija pocket is expected to be launched within days. Militants in the area have stepped up attacks on Peshmerga and civilians over the summer.
“Following information gathering and close monitoring, our forces arrested two ISIS militants in an operation inside the town of Daquq,” read a statement issued by Kirkuk’s security force Asayesh on Thursday.
“The name of one of them is M. S. J. who is from the township of Ryaz. He had been a militant for three years and worked with ISIS intelligence. He had taken part in most wars against the Peshmerga and security establishments. The father of the said terrorist was head of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in Hamrin area, Hawija,” the statement added.
The Hamrin mountains, running along Kirkuk’s southwestern border, are believed to now be the hideout of many ISIS militants and leadership who fled Mosul and Tal Afar.
The name of the other militant is “Z. A. H., who is from the township of al-Abbasi. This terrorist had worked in the making and planting of bombs for three years in Hawija. Aside from himself, his father and three of his brothers were ISIS militants. Two of his brothers were killed in the fight against the Peshmerga forces,” the statement detailed.
“These two ISIS militants had mingled with Hawija IDPs and settled in Daquq area a few weeks ago,” the statement explained.
The military offensive to oust ISIS from the Hawija pocket is expected to be launched within days. Militants in the area have stepped up attacks on Peshmerga and civilians over the summer.