Islamic State attacks Kirkuk as Iraqi forces push on Mosul

Record ID: 84218

  • Title: Islamic State attacks Kirkuk as Iraqi forces push on Mosul
  • Date: 21st October 2016
  • Summary: KIRKUK, IRAQ (OCTOBER 21, 2016) (AGENCY POOL) BUILDING WHERE ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS HOLED UP/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE BUILDING WITH KURDISH FLAG ON TOP/ARMED MAN ON ROOF/MEN ON BALCONY/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE PESHMERGA FIGHTER AIMING FROM BRIDGE/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE PESHMERGA FIGHTERS TAKING COVER/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE PEOPLE AND PESHMERGA FIGHTERS OUTSIDE BUILDING/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE PEOPLE AND PESHMERGA FIGHTERS ON STREET/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE CAR SPEEDING AWAY AND HONKING/PESHMERGA FIGHTERS PESHMERGA ON BRIDGE/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE ONLOOKERS/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE PEOPLE AND PESHMERGA WALKING/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE MORE OF PEOPLE AND PESHMERGA WALKING/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE PEOPLE AND VEHICLES ON STREET/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2016 14:28
  • Keywords: Iraq Kirkuk Peshmerga Islamic State gunfire conflict
  • Location: KIRKUK, IRAQ
  • City: KIRKUK, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA00154Y8FUV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Islamic State launched a major attack on the city of Kirkuk on Friday (October 21) as Iraqi and Kurdish forces pursued operations to seize territory around Mosul in preparation for an offensive on the jihadists' last major stronghold in Iraq.
    Islamic State's assault on Kirkuk, which lies in an oil- producing region, killed 18 members of the security forces and workers at a power station outside the city, including two Iranians, a hospital source said.
    Crude oil production facilities were not targeted and the power supply continued uninterrupted in the city. Kirkuk is located east of Hawija, a pocket still under control of Islamic State that lies between Baghdad and Mosul.
    Islamic State attacked several police buildings and a power station in the early hours of Friday.
    The militants also cut the road between the city and the power station 30 km. (20 miles) to the north.
    Several dozen took part in the assault, according to security sources who couldn't confirm a claim by Islamic State that it had taken a Kurdish police officer hostage.
    Fighting raged on through the afternoon as authorities called a curfew, saying some of the attackers were still holed up in a hotel and a mosque in the middle of the city that is currently held by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
    Kurdish Peshmerga fighters took control of Kirkuk in 2014, after the Iraqi army withdrew from the region, fleeing an Islamic State advance through northern and western Iraq.
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