Two bombings hit Iraqi province of Hawija

A local source from Salahuddin province has revealed an unprecedented ‘overnight displacement’ by families of the Islamic State militants from north of the province, as liberation offensive nears. “The western coast of Shirqat, north of Salahuddin, has seen an unprecedented displacement by families of the IS members that take place overnight toward unknown destinations, leaving their houses empty,” the source told AlSumaria News on Sunday.

“Complete liberation of Tal Afar in short time was a huge shock to IS members and leaders,” the source, who preferred anonymity, said. “The displacement of families is like a collective runaway, especially that the liberation offensives of Hawija and other regions are nearing.”

The Iraqi army said in September its forces recaptured the western coast of Shirqat, located south of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris river, after being surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and the pro-government Shi’ite militias. The eastern coast of Shirqat, is still under the IS control.

Pivotal regions that link between each of Diyala, Salahuddin and Kirkuk, are still held by the militants which poses threats to the liberated regions. Iraqi troops are urged to prevent the militants infiltration between Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces, especially the regions stretching along Hamreen mountains and Al-Azeem town. The government is expected to launch military offensives at the few remaining IS havens, including in Salahuddin.

On the other hand, Islamic State militants suddenly evacuated checkpoints in southwest of Kirkuk, a local source from the province said on Sunday. “Tens of IS fighters collectively evacuated several checkpoints in Hawija, southwestern Kirkuk, under mysterious circumstances,” the source told Alghad Press.

The militants, according to the source, “withdrew from sprawling regions on borders with Salahuddin province located near to oilfields.” The reasons behind the evacuation are unknown. In related news, two huge blasts were heard in the town, a local source from the province said, adding that one of them targeted an IS convoy.

“The blasts resulted from airstrikes, one of them targeted an IS armed convoy,” the source told AlSumaria News indicating news on casualties. The militant group, according to the source, who preferred anonymity, “has been on high alert in Hawija.”

Hawija and other neighboring regions, west of Kirkuk, have been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. The group executed dozens of civilians and security members there, forcing thousands to flee homes.

On Saturday, further reinforcements from the Federal Police were sent from Baghdad to the town, as the military command declared last week, the end of operations in Tal Afar, the militants’ last haven west of Nineveh, and the approach of the launch of offensives for Hawija. On Thursday, Iraqi army planes airdropped millions of messages on Hawija telling them that operations to recapture the stronghold were nearing, according to the War Media Cell.

 In the same context, Reinforcements of Iraqi troops were sent near Islamic State’s strongholds in Kirkuk preparing for an invasion to retake them from the militant group, military media reported on Saturday. The Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said further reinforcements from the Federal Police  were sent from Baghdad to Kirkuk’s Hawija to take part in the anticipated liberation offensives.

Last week, the WMC said air force aeroplanes dropped millions of messages on the southwestern Kirkuk town telling people “riddance from Daesh (Islamic State)” was close. Citizens were instructed to steer away from militants’ gatherings because they would become targets for military jets, the media service said.

“The Joint Operations Command will specify safe areas for citizens later,” it added. The JOC said Wednesday it had concluded operations to retake Tal Afar, Islamic State’s last stronghold in Nineveh, adding that Hawija was the next target for the next military operations.

Local tribal leaders and politicians from Kirkuk have mounted pressure on the Iraqi government to hasten with invading Hawija, the group’s largest stronghold in the southwest of the province, suggesting that its people were experiencing a humanitarian crisis under the group’s rule as the group continues to massacre civilians attempting to flee the town.