Iraqi army, Peshmerga launch joint anti-ISIS op in disputed areas

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army launched a joint operation in the Qarachogh mountain area of Makhmour district in Nineveh province on Monday, following signs of Islamic State (ISIS) movement detected by thermal cameras, but found no militants during the search.

Makhmour is among areas disputed by Erbil and Baghdad, and ISIS has previously exploited the security vacuum in the town’s rugged terrain.

“The army and security forces in the area noticed suspicious nighttime movements through thermal cameras. Therefore, a joint operation was conducted today to follow up and search the area, but no ISIS militants were found, and the operation ended,” Mohammed Jassim Kakai, head of the security and defense committee in the Nineveh Provincial Council, told Rudaw.

To bolster security and stability in the region, the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army carried out a joint operation in the foothills of Mount Qarachogh, according to a statement from the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs on Facebook. The search covered the plains and valleys to the south and north of the mountain.

“The aim of these operations is to search for and clear ISIS terrorist hideouts, so that the region’s security and calm can be better maintained,” the ministry added.

ISIS seized vast territories in Iraq in 2014 but was declared territorially defeated by the Iraqi army in 2017. Despite this, the group continues to threaten security in parts of the country through abductions, hit-and-run attacks, and bombings - especially in the disputed areas.

The fight against ISIS marked a key moment of cooperation between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army, which had historically been at odds. In recent years, both sides have formed joint brigades and launched coordinated operations to close security gaps in disputed territories claimed by both the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

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