Four Iraqi Soldiers Killed in IS Ambush Near Kirkuk

Four Iraqi soldiers were killed and three injured in an ambush by Islamic State militants near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. The attack occurred in a militant hotspot, years after Iraq declared victory over IS. Security forces were targeted while attempting to arrest a suspected militant.

Four Iraqi soldiers were killed and three injured on Wednesday in an ambush by Islamic State militants on an army convoy near the northern oil city of Kirkuk, according to a military statement.

The ambush occurred in a rural area southwest of Kirkuk, a region that remains a hotbed of militant activity years after Iraq declared final victory over the jihadist group in 2017. Following their territorial defeat, IS remnants have shifted to guerrilla tactics, executing hit-and-run attacks on government forces across Iraq.

Military officials reported that security forces were en route to detain a suspected militant about 45 km (28 miles) southwest of Kirkuk when they were attacked with sniper and automatic weapons fire. Although no group has taken responsibility for the attack, the military has attributed it to IS militants.

(With inputs from agencies.)