Security forces in Iraq have overcome a major assault by “Islamic State” in Kirkuk, killing 48 of the militants. The advance comes amid claims of a mass grave found outside the city of Mosul, which is still held by IS.
“Islamic State” fighters reportedly killed 284 men and boys as Iraqi-led coalition forces closed in on Mosul, according to an anonymous source quoted by US broadcaster CNN.
Killed on Thursday and Friday, the civilians were being used by IS as human shields, the source said, adding that the bodies were bulldozed into a mass grave after being shot. CNN said it could not confirm the intelligence source’s statements.
Elsewhere in Iraq, government forces killed 48 IS operatives in Kirkuk, Brigadier General Khattab Omar Aref said on Saturday. Some of the IS militants blew themselves up when they were cornered by police, he added.
Security officials said at least 46 other people were killed and over 100 people wounded. Officials called for blood donations to help the wounded and injured.
Iraqi state television reported that security forces had regained full control of the Kurdish-majority city.
“The security forces control the situation now, but there are still pockets of jihadists in some southern and eastern neighborhoods, Aref said. “We have foiled this large [IS] plot, which was to take control of government buildings, including security headquarters…They were denied just like they are being defeated on the outskirts of Mosul.”
Counterterrorism and intelligence units continued hunting down IS fighters who had stormed public buildings early on Friday. The city was caught off-guard when the IS launched an “inghimasi” attack, which refers to jihadi operations in which suicide bombers intend to unleash chaos more than achieving any political gain.