Asayish warns: Danger surrounds Kirkuk, present forces unable to protect it

Shafaq News / Asayish (Kurdish security organization )of Kirkuk Directorate warned on Thursday, of possible terrorist attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) in the province due to the inability of the forces present there to protect it, while indicating security gaps that facilitates these operations.

“ISIS terrorist groups are present in Kirkuk and its outskirts," noting that "last week, ISIS elements carried out a suicide operation inside the city, which confirms an increase in security risks,” Idris Rifaat, director of Kirkuk Asayish told Shafaq News.

"ISIS elements are roaming inside and outside Kirkuk," noting that "the recent ISIS attacks and the number of dead and wounded among the Iraqi forces confirms that Kirkuk city is in imminent danger."

"There is a lack of coordination between the forces present in the city on one hand and citizens and the security forces on the other hand," adding that "for these reasons, we expect ISIS to carry out more terrorist operations inside Kirkuk and its outskirts,” Rifaat noted.

“Kirkuk citizens have many concerns because the forces present are not from the people of the city and don’t know the geography of the region and that is why they cannot defend Kirkuk,” The director of Kirkuk Asayish added.

The attacks by ISIS militants have increased significantly in the recent period in Kirkuk and the neighboring provinces of Diyala and Salahuddin causing dozens of casualties among civilians and security personnel.