ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – An alleged Islamic State (ISIS) hideout in Kirkuk province was destroyed on Wednesday after it was targeted by the Iraqi air force, the country’s Security Media Cell reported.
Iraqi F-16 jets “destroyed a hideout of ISIS gangs in the Zghitun valley” in western Kirkuk in coordination with the Kirkuk Operations Command, according to the cell, who did not disclose information about casualties inflicted in the air raid.
ISIS seized control of swathes of land in Iraq in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in 2017 but it continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.
The militants are active in a security vacuum in parts of northern Iraq that are disputed by Erbil and Baghdad, stretching across the provinces of Kirkuk, Salahaddin, and Diyala.
Iraq’s air force regularly pursues and targets ISIS hideouts across the country, particularly in the disputed areas.
In May, a number of ISIS militants were killed during an operation carried out by the Iraqi air force in Diyala province.
The Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have discussed establishing joint brigades to secure areas disputed between the governments. Talks stalled because of elections and a year of political wrangling, but funds for two joint brigades are included in the draft 2023 budget.
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