Peshmerga fight ISIS south of Kirkuk

[Anthea]

Peshmerga and ISIS engage in hour-long confrontation south of Kirkuk

Three Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers were wounded in an ISIS attack Monday morning near Zarga south east of Kirkuk on the Tuz Khurmatu front. The extremist group attacked the Peshmerga in the area at least four times last month, resulting in a number of casualties.

Major Kamaran Ahmed, of the 11th Peshmerga Brigade told Rudaw the ISIS attack that took place at around 1:40 am was repelled and the militants made no territorial gain or any advance.

“We had prior information about the ISIS attack and so we responded properly during the attack,”

He revealed that the clashes lasted an hour.

Major Ahmed himself was among the wounded.

According to the Peshmerga, ISIS militants had planted bombs on some of the roads the night before in order to prevent reinforcements.

Lieutenant Colonel Star Surchi told Rudaw: “ISIS attacked us on three fronts and we believe that 50 to 60 ISIS militants took part in the attack. In order to prevent us from receiving support from other Peshmerga forces, ISIS rigged the main roads with bombs.”

Zarga is located west of Tuz Khurmatu where Peshmerga forces have begun digging a 43-kilometer trench near the town and a watch tower to monitor the area and any ISIS movement as Kurdish forces have come under frequent attacks form the radical group in recent months.

Zarga is an area where Peshmerga, Iraqi troops and ISIS are within firing range of each other.

According to Peshmerga officials ISIS may intend to use the area for moving reinforcements from one place to another, particularly around Hamrin and even to Diyala province.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/030720171