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Kirkuk tribesmen rally as IS launch new wave of attacks

As Islamic State sleeper cells continue to carry out attacks south and west of oil-rich Kirkuk, local tribesmen made efforts to show unity while other factions showed off "resistance" to the United States and Israel.
An Iraqi fighter with the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces) inspects the site of the Islamic State (IS) group attack, a day earlier, on a unit of the paramilitary force in Mukaishefah, about 180km (110 miles) north of the capital, on May 3, 2020. - IS group remnants in Iraq are exploiting a coronavirus lockdown, coalition troop withdrawals and simmering political disputes to ramp up deadly attacks, according to analysts and intelligence officials, the bloodiest so far being an ambush early on M

Local Sunni tribal fighters from southwestern Kirkuk province put on a show of unity with the Iraqi army and Shiite-led Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) operating in the area against the Islamic State (IS) on May 12 by gathering in mass, driving around in military vehicles, shooting into the air and inviting local journalists to film the scene.

As attacks continue on local forces in Sunni-majority southwestern Kirkuk, a transfer of 176 detainees arrested on terrorism charges from Sulaimaniyah to Kirkuk May 21 has drawn praise from some and wariness from others. Many of the detainees on the list, of which Al-Monitor has obtained a copy, are from Hawija and the surrounding villages.

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