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Iraq
Kirkuk: 16 turbans toes up, gov’t to investigate 3 cops airstruck by Coalition fire
2019-04-27


Iraq to investigate 1 officer killed, 2 wounded amid coalition air strikes

[Rudaw] Iraq's Joint Operations Command announced on Friday it will open "an investigation commission" after two Federal Police were wounded and one killed while the US-led international anti-ISIS coalition conducted activities around Kirkuk province.

Iraqi Interior Minister Aqeel Mahmoud al-Khazali confirmed in a Facebook post that the investigation will take place, following the casualties to the 11th Brigade of the Federal Police.

Joint Operations Command is responsible for coordinating with all state-sponsored armed forces in the country.

The coalition, as first reported by The Jerusalem Post, has announced that there were reports of the casualties.

"One Iraqi Federal Police member was reportedly killed and two were wounded by Coalition Forces supporting Iraqi Security Force counter-Daesh operations near al-Dib, Iraq," coalition spokesperson US Army Col. Scott Rawlinson confirmed to Rudaw English on Friday.

"The wounded are in stable condition and receiving medical care. The incident is under investigation," it added.

The mountainous Hamrin area is located about 160 kilometers north of Baghdad and 70 kilometers south of Kirkuk.

Islamic State (ISIS) remnants have remained active there. Earlier this month two brigades of Iraq's elite Counter-Terrorism Forces (ICTS) began intensive operations in the area.

Through the ISIS conflict, the US-trained ICTS have served as the spearhead of Iraqi offensives against the extremists. Other units like the Federal Police, Army, Rapid Response Units, and paramilitias have been used to hold liberated territory.

JPost cited social media accounts claiming the strikes took place on Wednesday at a Federal Police checkpoint which had been mistakenly targeted.

Al-Ahad TV in Iraq reported coalition helicopters were involved in the strikes.

The channel is close to Asaib Ahl al-Haq, a group that is commanded by Qais al-Khazali and fought as a paramilitary during the ISIS conflict. It is known to have links to Iran and hold anti-US sentiment.

Amnesty International reported as early as 2017 that "armed men" would simply wear Federal Police uniforms. UNHCR has documented testimony of the Federal Police working with "others in desert camouflage military uniforms."

Iraqi police say killed 16 Islamic State members after raids in Kirkuk

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi police said Friday their operations against Islamic State extremists’ havens in the province of Kirkuk, north of the country, left 16 militants dead.

The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service said n a statement its operations designed to purge Wadi al-Shai region in Kirkuk, which launched Thursday morning, “left 16 Daesh (Islamic State) terrorists and destroyed 21 hideouts and 14 underground tunnels.

It said the region had been used by the militant group as a launching point for hostilities against civilians and security services.
Posted by:trailing wife

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