SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A group of Islamic State (ISIS) militants opened fire at two Kurdish shepherds in Zinana sub-district in Garmian administration, one of the shepherds told Esta Media Network on Monday.
The shepherd, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said three militants who had long beard opened fire at them near the village of Duraji in Zinana sub-district.
The two shepherds escaped unharmed in the attack , he said. “We saw three militants who had beard, and they shot at us.”
The village is near the area where Kurdish forces in Garmian and Peshmerga forces discovered a mass grave last week.
ISIS militants have increased attacks against civilians and security forces in the disputed territories claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad.
Twenty-two members of the Peshmerga forces and three civilians were killed in several ISIS attacks this month.
Kurdish officials have long blamed a lack of coordination along a stretch of territory claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil for ISIS’ continued ability to wage deadly attacks.
Islamic State controlled roughly a third of Iraq between 2014 and 2017. Iraqi forces and Kurdish troops backed by U.S.-led Coalition forces as well as Iran-backed Shia militias defeated the militant group in 2017, but its members still roam areas of northern Iraq and northeastern Syria.
