Around 20 people living south of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk were kidnapped by militants of the Daesh* terrorist organisation, NRT broadcaster reported on Tuesday.Militants attacked a village in the Rashad district, located south-west of Kirkuk, taking 14 locals hostage, Kurdish TV channel NRT reported, adding that the fate of the captives remained unknown.
According to the outlet, militants captured six more people in other villages south of Kirkuk,
however one person managed to escape. Residents of several nearby villages reportedly decided to evacuate.
This comes after declaration by the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi in December 2017 of the end of the country's fight against the Daesh after the Iraqi troops re-established complete control over its border with Syria. After that, the Kirkuk province governor told Sputnik in February about so-called Daesh "sleeper cells" in the area.
The province of Kirkuk was under full control of Syrian Kurds, but after the Kurds held an independence referendum in September 2017, the Iraqi government launched an offensive and soon regained control over the region.
Comment: Though Iraqi forces declared victory over ISIS in 2017
reports allege that they have found safe haven in areas under neither Kurdish nor Iraqi control:
Nearly a year after Iraq's declaration of the defeat of ISIS, the western face of Qarachogh Mountain that overlooks Qaraj Plains is just one example where the extremists remain holed up.
"This is 100 percent true. Daesh has a presence. It is very active in the area, especially in areas populated by Arabs," said one villager from the Qaraj Plains who preferred to remain anonymous out of fear.
In the area's villages ISIS is sleeping comfortably and they are on guard at all times.
"They get assistance, food from there, or they are their family members. People see them in the villages at night. My evidence is they stop by some houses, asking for food, and assistance," added the villager.
Peshmerga have been stationed on the mountain since pulling out of Makhmour itself in the wake of the October 16 events, when Kurdish forces withdrew from the disputed or Kurdistani areas claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil.
ISIS remains active along the demarcation lines between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi forces creating a de facto void.
"There is a lot of movement by Daesh in Qaraj, Hilwat and all the way to western Kirkuk, Hawija, Shirqat, Qayyarah, and all the way to the back of Mosul. There are some Federal Police positions there. Daesh can freely move around the right and left side of the road," said Maj. Gen. Ziryan Sheikh Wasany, Peshmerga deputy commander of the Makhmour Front.
Comment: Though Iraqi forces declared victory over ISIS in 2017 reports allege that they have found safe haven in areas under neither Kurdish nor Iraqi control: