Islamic State targets peshmerga in Iraq’s disputed Diyala and Makhmour

A recent string of attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region peshmerga forces have raised concern over how effective long-discussed coordination with the central government is in the country’s flashpoint disputed territories.
Mourners on Oct. 27, 2021, surround caskets of victims of yesterday's IS attack on the village of Al-Rashad in Iraq's eastern Diyala province.
Mourners on Oct. 27, 2021, surround the caskets of victims of yesterday's attack on the village of Al-Rashad in Iraq's eastern Diyala province that reportedly killed at least 11 people, during their funeral in the central shrine city of Najaf. The attack was blamed on the Islamic State, security sources said. - ALI NAJAFI/AFP via Getty Images
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Shelly Kittleson
@shellykittleson

BAGHDAD — Peshmerga forces operating in territory disputed between the central government and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) have in recent days incurred multiple casualties in a number of attacks attributed to Islamic State (IS) cells.

An alleged IS attack late Dec. 2 on peshmerga forces and civilians in the Qarachogh area of Makhmour left several dead. Peshmerga Gen. Sirwan Barzani told local media late in the evening that his forces had been attacked by IS and were responding to the attack.

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