ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Islamic State (ISIS) has carried out over one hundred attacks in territory disputed between Baghdad and Erbil since the beginning of the year, killing and injuring hundreds of people, a Peshmerga official told Rudaw on Monday.
ISIS has conducted around 134 attacks in the past seven months in areas of Diyala, Salahaddin, Kirkuk and Makhmour, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Peshmerga Jabar Yawar told Rudaw’s Nalin Hassan.
“Most of the attacks are in the areas in Diyala or areas between Kifri and Tuz Khurmatu, or areas in eastern and western Kirkuk,” Yawar added, noting that parts of Makhmour have also seen an increase in attacks.
At least 552 were killed, injured or abducted by the group during the same period, he said.
ISIS was declared territorially defeated in Iraq in December 2017. However, remnants of the group continue to operate in the disputed territories, returning to earlier insurgency tactics including ambushes, kidnappings and targeted killings.
ISIS has exploited a security vacuum in territories disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, carrying out frequent attacks. Peshmerga and Iraqi forces launched a joint military operation in the disputed areas earlier in July, and have set up joint coordination centers to fight ISIS.
The Ministry of Peshmerga announced in July talks are ongoing about the formation of two joint brigades of Iraqi and Peshmerga forces to counter ISIS remnants in disputed areas. Peshmerga Chief of Staff Jamal Eminki said that forces will be deployed as soon as both the Iraqi and Kudish governments agree on the budget.
ISIS set up a fake checkpoint earlier this month in Makhmour, abducting at least five people and injured three others. Two of the kidnapped were later released.
The increase in attacks aims at “disrupting the conditions” in Iraq ahead of the parliamentary elections on October 10, according to Yawar.
He also noted the militant group’s increased attacks on electricity pylons, especially in Diyala.
This summer, the group has claimed dozens of attacks on the country’s electricity grid. In its propaganda magazine, ISIS claims to have carried out 145 attacks on electricity towers between June 6 and August 30.
