According to RojNews agency, ISIS mercenaries attacked the Iraqi soldiers on Mount Qereçox in the countryside of Maxmur district in Mosul governorate on Sunday.

The attack in the area between the villages of Eliresh and Berdispi left two soldiers of the Iraqi army dead.

Reports say that a military operation was launched in the area following the attack.

Mount Qereçox is located directly behind the Maxmur refugee camp in the district of the same name, which since the independence referendum in autumn 2017 has been one of the disputed areas of the country to which the Kurdish regional government in Hewlêr (Erbil) has laid claim.

On Mount Qereçox there is an ISIS base to which many jihadists have retreated after the military victory over the militia more than a year ago in northern and eastern Syria. The international anti-ISIS coalition has since carried out several air strikes against ISIS positions on the mountain.

In early February, an ISIS group coming from Mount Qereçox attacked the Maxmur camp, injuring three residents. The attack had been repulsed by a guerrilla unit of the HPG, two jihadists were killed. Guerrilla fighter Ahmed Muradpur (Bekês Urmiye) was also killed in the fighting.