IED blast hits Iraqi army patrol in Kirkuk, injures soldier
Shafaq News/ A roadside bomb targeted an Iraqi army patrol in the volatile Kirkuk governorate on Monday, severely injuring one soldier, a security source reported.
The source, speaking to Shafaq News Agency revealed that the improvised explosive device (IED) blew up in the Tilla Gara area, situated between the districts of Kifri and Tuz Khurmatu in Kirkuk, confirming that one member of the patrol sustained serious injuries from the blast.
In the aftermath, security forces cordoned off the area as investigations into the incident commenced.
While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the region has been a frequent target of Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
Ongoing ISIS Threat in Kirkuk
Kirkuk, a multi-ethnic region in northern Iraq, has long been a hotspot for insurgent activity. ISIS militants, despite losing control of their territory, continue to operate in the area, launching sporadic attacks against both security forces and civilians. These attacks often take the form of bombings or hit-and-run assaults aimed at destabilizing the region and maintaining a foothold in strategic locations.
The Iraqi military has been engaged in ongoing operations to root out ISIS elements. On September 9, Iraqi forces launched a large-scale security operation in southern Kirkuk, targeting ISIS remnants.
Abu Reda al-Najjar, deputy commander of North and East Tigris Operations in the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), stated that PMF intelligence had detected ISIS movements in several strategic valleys and hills south of Kirkuk.
During the operation, security forces killed terrorists and uncovered and seized numerous IEDs and ISIS vehicles.
Recent Attacks and Security Operations
Last Friday, two Iraqi army officers were killed, and several soldiers wounded in an ISIS ambush northwest of Kirkuk. The attack occurred on the outskirts of the Dibis district, 65 kilometers from Kirkuk. According to security sources, ISIS fighters attacked a military vehicle, leading to fatalities and injuries.
A few days prior, on Wednesday, Iraqi security forces thwarted a terrorist plot in the city of Kirkuk. A joint force from the National Security Agency, local police, and the Al-Sulaymaniyah Counter-terrorism Unit conducted a raid in the Sekanian neighborhood.
Clashes during the operation resulted in the death of one suspect by suicide, the arrest of another, and the escape of a third. Security sources revealed that one of the arrested suspects had recently returned from the United States.
Two officers were wounded during the raid, and further investigations are ongoing.
On Sunday, security units killed two terrorists, including a suicide bomber, in the Banja Ali area of the city. The militants, riding a motorcycle and armed with an explosive belt, were engaged in a shootout with security forces. Both were killed before they could detonate their explosives.
