ISIS taking over hospitals in Hawija, using human shields against attacks
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Islamic State (ISIS) has moved its command centers into hospitals and clinics in the Kirkuk district of Hawija, which it controls, taking positions among civilians who have become its human shields against possible attacks by Iraqi government forces.
Jabar al-Mamouri, a commander of the pro-government Shiite Popular Mobilization Units, or Hashd al-Shaabi, said that “ISIS fighters had been transferred to hospitals and clinics in ambulances,” Iraq’s Arabic-language al-Sumaria news agency reported.
Mamouri said that the health facilities in Hawija have been turned into ISIS command centers.
ISIS also has reportedly used ambulances to transport ammunition from its stronghold of Mosul. Hawija, 55 kilometers southwest of Kirkuk, is also considered an ISIS stronghold.
The biggest and first raid against the radical group took place in October, when US and Kurdish commandos stormed an ISIS jail and freed 70 hostages.
Jabar al-Mamouri, a commander of the pro-government Shiite Popular Mobilization Units, or Hashd al-Shaabi, said that “ISIS fighters had been transferred to hospitals and clinics in ambulances,” Iraq’s Arabic-language al-Sumaria news agency reported.
Mamouri said that the health facilities in Hawija have been turned into ISIS command centers.
ISIS also has reportedly used ambulances to transport ammunition from its stronghold of Mosul. Hawija, 55 kilometers southwest of Kirkuk, is also considered an ISIS stronghold.
The biggest and first raid against the radical group took place in October, when US and Kurdish commandos stormed an ISIS jail and freed 70 hostages.