SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces continue to carry out operation to clear areas in Garmian administration from Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
In a statement, the Peshmerga ministry said the Kurdish forces launched a “six-kilometer clearance operation” in Bawplawi and Qaramin areas in Garmian on Sunday.
The two areas are located in a security vacuum between the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces, according to the ministry.
“As a result of the operation, the western areas of Bawplawi and northern of Qaramin were completely searched,” it said.
It was the second operation carried out by the Peshmerga forces in Garmian this week. On Friday, the Peshmerga cleared Daaki Sarcham and Kani Masi villages of ISIS militants in the area.
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.
