KIRKUK (DİHA) - Fierce clashes are reportedly continuing in Kirkuk between ISIS gangs, which launched an attack on the South Kirkuk front after midnight, and Kurdish forces that responded to the attacks. The clashes that broke out on the Kirkuk, Makhmur and Guwer line have continued the whole night with reciprocal attacks.



ISIS gangs launched a general attack at around 01:30 local time on the villages under the control of Kurdish forces and the military headquarters of the peshmerga forces. Bomb laden vehicles and suicide attackers were reportedly neutralized in the areas of Meryem Beg, Al Rashand and Tel Al Werd. Reports say that ISIS groups have been drawn out of the villages and the areas they entered last night. According to the statements of the South Kirkuk Front spokesperson appearing on South Kurdistan media, two high ranking commanders of the peshmerga forces lost their lives during the attacks and many others were wounded, while reinforcements have been sent to the region from the Sulaymaniyah and Germiyan line. It is also reported that these reinforced peshmerga groups have inflicted heavy blows on the gangs.



Reports further claim that peshmerga forces and Kurdistan region anti-terror teams took control of Meryem Beg, the villages of Al-Rashand and Tel Al-Werd bridge and continue to advance by inflicting heavy losses on the ISIS gangs. Reports also say that the control of the area around Mektep Xalid village to the south of Kirkuk has been taken by the peshmerga forces.



Local sources say the ISIS gangs are fleeing away from the war front, having left behind dozens of corpses, although the exact numbers of casualties are yet to be ascertained. It has been announced that the peshmerga commander who fell in the defence of Tel Al Werd on the South Kirkuk Front was identified as Emîd Şêrko Fatîh. It is also reported that four other peshmerga lost their lives in clashes last night while 3 HPG guerrillas were wounded.



(nt)

