2 IS militants killed in Iraq's Kirkuk

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) KIRKUK, Iraq:Two IS militants were killed and one was arrested in the south of Iraq's Kirkuk as part of joint police and military operations.

'The operation launched in search of IS militants hiding in the southwest of Kirkuk is ongoing. The IS militants hiding after the liberation of the zone began to pose a threat to the people of the region, Kirkuk operations vommander Ali Imran told Anadolu Agency.

'The support of the region's people in terms of intel and information has sped up our efforts, Imran added.

Upon the instruction of Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, federal forces launched military operations on Oct. 16 with a view to securing Iraq's oil-rich Kirkuk province and other territories 'disputed between the KRG and Baghdad.

The Peshmerga, which had held these territories since mid-2014, withdrew without incident, leaving them to Iraqi federal forces.

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