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On December 10, ISIS revealed in an infographic released by its official newspaper, al-Nabaa, that its cells in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region had carried out four attacks on the Peshmerga, the Kurdish branch of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
According to al-Nabaa infographic, the four attacks took place within nine days, between November 27 and December 5.
- On November 27, ISIS terrorists attacked a post of the Peshmerga in northern Diyala and targeted a backup force with an improvised explosive device. As a result, a Humvee armored vehicle was destroyed, five service members, including an officer, were killed and four others were wounded.
- On November 29, ISIS terrorists attacked a post of the Peshmerga in northeastern Diyala. As a result, a service member was killed and four others were wounded.
- On December 2, ISIS terrorists attacked several positions of the Peshmerga in southern Erbil, then clashed with a backup force. As a result, a military vehicle was destroyed and 13 service members were killed.
- On December 5, ISIS terrorists attacked a post of the Peshmerga in northern Kirkuk. As a result, four service members, including an officer, were killed and another was wounded.
In total, ISIS four attacks claimed the lives of 23 service members of the Peshmerga and wounded at least 14 others. Four of the casualties were officers.
ISIS recent attacks in Kurdistan are extremely worrying as the region is known to be one of the safest parts of Iraq. The terrorist group is clearly attempting to expand its operations in the Kurdish region at all costs. Better coordination between the Peshmerga and the rest of Iraqi government forces is needed to stop the group.