ISIS militants attacked an Iraqi Army position in the village of Burghliya, in the Dananish area of Hawija district, early Saturday before encountering an ambush by security forces as they attempted to withdraw. Fatalities were reported among the militants.
According to information provided about the incident, ISIS fighters opened fire on the military position before retreating. Iraqi security forces had prepared an ambush along their withdrawal route, triggering a clash between the two sides. The militants eventually fled, but the number of those killed was not disclosed.
No casualties among Iraqi Army personnel were reported in the available information.
Saturday’s incident was the third armed attack in the same area within a week. Earlier attacks targeted Federal Police forces and caused casualties. ISIS militants also destroyed a thermal surveillance camera used by security forces.
The repeated attacks have raised concerns about the continued activity of ISIS sleeper cells in Hawija, where mountainous and agricultural terrain can provide cover for militants to hide, move between locations and launch surprise attacks.
The incidents have also drawn attention to security vulnerabilities in the area following the reported withdrawal of U.S. forces. However, no official Iraqi statement was provided establishing a direct link between the withdrawal and the recent attacks.
Iraqi security forces continue to conduct military operations and search efforts aimed at locating ISIS cells and restricting their movements. The latest ambush indicates that security forces are also attempting to anticipate militants’ escape routes and intercept them as they withdraw from attack sites.
Despite these efforts, the series of incidents over the past week highlights the continuing challenge of preventing attacks by small, dispersed ISIS cells operating in areas where difficult terrain and gaps in security coverage complicate surveillance and military operations.
