Tens of Volunteer Forces Join Iraq’s Fight against ISIL in Kirkuk

A large number of volunteer forces joined the Iraqi popular forces in their fight against the Takfiri terrorists in the province of Kirkuk on Tuesday. Over 250 Iraqi volunteer forces are now fighting beside the Iraqi army and popular forces. Meantime, the Iraqi popular forces for the second time in the last four days repelled the ISIL militants’ attack on their positions in the surrounding areas of Bashir village in Kirkuk province. Last month, Iraq’s Kurdish Pishmarga forces, in a surprise attack on the ISIL positions, killed tens of Takfiri terrorists in Southern Kirkuk. At least 80 ISIL terrorists were killed and dozens more injured in heavy clashes with Kurdish forces. A Pishmarga source said that the ISIL forces attacked the Kurdish forces from six different directions, but they were pushed back. Kurdish forces drove the ISIL terrorists back from the Southern parts of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in Northern Iraq in early July. The Pishmarga took control of Kirkuk last summer shortly after the ISIL captured Mosul from the Iraqi army. Since then they have fought some of their fiercest battles with the radical group in the Southern parts of the city.