Iraqi Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons conduct a training mission over Iraq May 26, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Russ Scalf)
On December 10, F-16 fighter jets of the Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) targeted a cell of ISIS that was hiding inside a cave in the area of al-Tun Kubri in the northern province of Kirkuk.
In a statement, the Iraqi Security Media Cell said that the airstrikes were carried out thanks to information provided by the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency. According to an initial assessment by the IQAF, two terrorists were killed as a result of the pinpoint airstrikes.
This was the third joint counter-terrorism operation by the IQAF and local intelligence services in less than a week. On December 6, F-16 fighter jets targeted three hideouts of ISIS cells located within the so-called Aisha camp in Hamrin mountains in the eastern province of Diyala in coordination with the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI). Later on December 7, an AC-208 Combat Caravan counter-insurgency aircraft carried out airstrikes on a hideout of ISIS in the al-Chai valley in the northern province of Kirkuk, also in coordination with the DMI.
The growing cooperation between the IQAF and local intelligence services led to a notable improvement in the security situation in remote parts of Iraq’s western, norther and eastern region.
The Iraqi military, intelligence and security forces have been developing their own counter-terrorism tactics with much success for the last few years. Today, they are operating against ISIS with very little interference from the United States-led coalition.
