Reeling jihadis counterattack
ISLAMIC State militants launched a major counterattack on the city of Kirkuk yesterday in an apparent bid to divert security forces from a massive offensive against the IS-held city of Mosul.
The assault on Kirkuk by suicide bombers and gunmen killed at least six police officers and 16 civilians. Among those killed were two Iranians working at a power station outside the city.
Kirkuk lies 100 miles south-east of Mosul in an oil-producing region.
The Islamic extremists attacked several police buildings and the power station early yesterday.
At least 12 militants were killed, either by suicide vests or in clashes with the security forces.
The attack comes as Iraqi government forces continued to advance on Mosul – the IS “capital”.
With air and ground support from the 5,000-strong US-led coalition, forces captured eight villages south and southeast of Mosul.
The offensive that started on Monday to capture the city, with around 1.5million residents still believed to be living there, is expected to become the biggest battle fought in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003.
The United Nations says Mosul could need the world’s biggest humanitarian relief operation, with forecasts of up to a million people being uprooted.
On Thursday an improvised explosive device killed a member of the US military near Mosul.