SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Iraqi Ministry of Defense said it had carried out a joint anti-terrorist operation with the French forces on the outskirts of the disputed-Kirkuk province.
The third battalion of the third brigade of Iraqi infantry forces carried out a joint operation with the French forces in the “Valley of tea” in Kirkuk, it said in a statement on Thursday.
During the operation, at least eight “enemy’s” hideouts were destroyed, the ministry said in the statement, adding that four bombs and two secret tunnels were destroyed as well.
The statement did not offer more details on the joint operation, however, doubtlessly it attacked targets of the Islamic State (ISIS).
ISIS seized control of swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. While the group has been declared territorially defeated in 2017, it still poses a serious security threat to the country which is capable of carrying out hit-and-run attacks and abductions.
They are mostly active in areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad.
In late January, at least five alleged ISIS terrorists were arrested by the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency arrested amid an operation in Kirkuk province, the state news agency reported.
