Iraqi security forces kill five Daesh commanders in oil-rich Kirkuk province

Members of the Iraqi federal police have carried out a counter-terrorism operation in the oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk, killing four high-profile commanders of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the process.

The security forces, following a tip-off from pro-government fighters from Popular Mobilization Units – better known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha’abi, staged an ambush on a militant hideout in the village of Karhakazan late on Monday, and killed the terrorists.

The slain Takfiris were later identified as Adnan Ahmed Hassan al-Sour, better known by the nom de guerre Abu Rizwan, who was a senior militant commander in the Riyadh district, southwest of Kirkuk, Shaker Shallal Ousebi, commonly known as Abu Haifa, who was responsible for Daesh medical affairs, Abu Talha, Abu Haitham and Hassan Ali Thalaj, better known by the alias Abu Dhar.

Abu Rizwan was apparently one of the main organizers of Daesh surprise attack on Hashd al-Sha’abi forces in Saadounia village, western Hawija, on February 18, when 21 voluntary fighters were killed.

Separately, security forces have uncovered a huge cache of munitions belonging to Daesh extremists in the oil-rich city of Baiji, located some 130 miles north of Baghdad.