Iraqi airstrike kills four ISIS fighters in Kirkuk

KIRKUK — Iraq’s Joint Operations Command reported Tuesday the discovery of four bodies belonging to ISIS fighters following an airstrike in the Laylan district of Kirkuk. The airstrike, carried out by Iraqi Air Force F-16 jets, also destroyed weapons, communication devices, and logistical supplies, according to a military statement.

The operation was part of ongoing efforts to eliminate the remaining ISIS presence in Iraq. “With precise intelligence and close monitoring over three days, the Counter-Terrorism Service, under the supervision of the Joint Operations Command targeting cell, provided accurate information on a key terrorist hideout in Laylan,” the Security Media Cell said in a statement.

The airstrike, conducted at 11:30 p.m. on Monday night, was followed by a ground sweep by Counter-Terrorism Service forces at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday. During the search, four bodies were found, including a high-ranking ISIS leader, whose identity is still being confirmed. The operation also destroyed weapons and communication equipment, with searches still underway.

The Joint Operations Command reiterated its commitment to eliminating ISIS cells. “We will continue to strike terrorist hideouts to deliver justice and ensure the safety of our people,” the statement added.

Although ISIS was declared defeated in Iraq in 2017, remnants of the group continue to operate in remote regions, especially in disputed territories, taking advantage of security gaps to carry out attacks. Iraqi security forces, alongside Peshmerga units, frequently conduct operations to target these cells.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has affirmed that Iraq’s security forces are capable of handling the ISIS threat without external support. In a Sept. 17 interview with Bloomberg, he stated that coalition forces are “no longer required” in Iraq.

Iraqi forces announced in October that they had killed over 100 ISIS militants this year, including several senior leaders, during counterterrorism operations.