Iraqi airstrike targets ISIS cell in security gap, killing four militants

TUZ KHURMATU — Iraqi forces launched an airstrike Friday evening on an Islamic State cell in the Gharra and Palkana areas, located between Kifri and Tuz Khurmatu. This region lies within a security gap between Peshmerga and Iraqi army forces, an area known for the ongoing threat posed by ISIS remnants.

The airstrike, conducted by an Iraqi Air Force F-16 at approximately 6:30 p.m., resulted in the deaths of four ISIS members, according to Hama Chawri, commander of the 731st Brigade of the Peshmerga forces in the Khurmatu area. “Following detailed surveillance of the militants’ movements, an Iraqi Air Force jet executed the strike on an ISIS cell, which consisted of four members,” Chawri told 964media.

Tuz Khurmatu, in Salah Al-Din province, and Kifri, in Diyala province, are towns within the disputed territories between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraq’s federal government. Known for their ethnic diversity, these areas are home to Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen. Security in these territories remains complex, with ISIS cells exploiting gaps between Kurdish and Iraqi forces to maintain a presence.

Chawri emphasized that there is ongoing coordination between Peshmerga and Iraqi army forces regarding intelligence and security operations. “All members of the ISIS cell were killed in the airstrike,” he confirmed, noting that the 2nd Brigade of the Joint Forces will be stationed in the area to maintain control and prevent further militant activity.

Although Iraq declared ISIS defeated in 2017, remnants of the group continue to launch attacks, especially in remote and disputed regions. In 2024 alone, Iraqi authorities report having killed more than 100 ISIS militants, including several senior leaders, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

The Iraqi government has intensified operations against ISIS remnants in recent weeks. On Oct. 24, security forces reported the deaths of nine ISIS militants, including seven suicide bombers, during an operation north of Rutba in Anbar province. Earlier, on Oct. 22, U.S. Central Command announced that Iraqi forces, with support from the Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, conducted multiple airstrikes in central Iraq, targeting ISIS leaders and resulting in at least seven militant deaths.