Particularly in the "controversial areas" in northern Iraq, attacks by the ISIS have increased recently. The Kirkuk region is considered as a part of Southern Kurdistan on the one hand, but it is particularly claimed by Iraq because of its oil wealth. Meanwhile, Turkey tries to enforce its neo-Ottoman interests here through the Turkmen minority and also maintains relations with the ISIS which uses this situation to carry out repeated attacks in the region.

Last night, the terrorist militia attacked two Iraqi military checkpoints between Daquq and Xurmatû (Tuz Khurmatu). The Iraqi military and the federal police confirmed that the attack resulted in deaths and injuries. The ISIS is also said to have overrun and taken control of Iraqi military positions. Whether the ISIS continues to hold the checkpoints is not known.

The federal police and the military have gathered forces in Kirkuk, Tikrit and the other centres to prepare an intervention.