Iraqi warplanes kill ISIS leader in Kirkuk airstrike
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iraqi warplanes conducted airstrikes on Thursday, killing six “terrorists” in Kirkuk Governorate in northern Iraq, including a prominent Islamic State (ISIS) leader.
Among those killed was Omar Salah Nehmeh, also known as Abu Khattab, identified as one of the most dangerous leaders of ISIS, along with Othman Abu Abed and Izz al-Din Hisham, according to a statement from the Joint Operations Command.
The strikes, carried out by F-16 aircraft, were part of a coordinated operation following intelligence reports.
Following the airstrikes, a raid and search operation was conducted by the Iraqi National Intelligence Service in collaboration with the Counter-Terrorism Service.
During the search, “the bodies of the terrorists and numerous explosive belts, weapons, technical equipment, and various phones that were used by them were found,” the statement added.
The operation comes two days after statements from the Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani, who said “the justifications for the presence of the International Coalition have ended,” and that there is no longer a need for a coalition of 86 countries in Iraq.