At a Glance

• Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service says two civilians were killed during an operation targeting two suspected terrorists in Kirkuk.
• The CTS says one suspect was killed and the other captured after an armed clash in a densely populated residential area.
• Four CTS personnel were wounded during the operation.
• Two investigative committees have been formed to establish the circumstances and determine responsibility for any shortcomings.

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Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service says two civilians were killed and four of its personnel wounded during an operation targeting two suspected terrorists in Kirkuk.

The CTS said one suspect, who was wearing an explosive belt, was killed and the other was captured during the operation, while two investigations have been launched into the circumstances surrounding the civilian deaths.

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Key Statements

“The operation came within its national duty to pursue terrorist elements and thwart their plans to target citizens.”

— Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service

“The state does not exclude its sons, but organizes their capabilities within the framework of law and the Constitution.”

— Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service

“The protection of citizens and preservation of their lives and safety are among its foremost duties.”

— Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service

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The CTS said its forces were pursuing two suspected terrorists in a densely populated residential area when an armed confrontation broke out.

According to the service, one suspect was wearing an explosive belt while the other was armed, and the pair intended to carry out an attack against civilians in the area.

The CTS said the confrontation resulted in one suspect being killed and the other captured, while two civilians were killed and four CTS personnel wounded.

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The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service said Thursday that two civilians were killed during a security operation in Kirkuk targeting two suspected terrorists.

In a statement issued on October 1, the service said its forces had been pursuing the two men in a densely populated residential area after determining that they intended to carry out an attack against civilians.

According to the CTS, one of the suspects was wearing an explosive belt while the other was armed.

The service said an armed confrontation took place as its forces moved to prevent the planned attack. One suspect was killed and the other was captured.

The clash also resulted in the deaths of two civilians and injuries to four CTS personnel, according to the statement.

The CTS expressed its “deep regret” over the civilian deaths and offered condolences to their families.

It said that, immediately after the incident, a joint investigative committee was formed on the orders of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The head of the Counter-Terrorism Service also ordered a separate fact-finding committee to establish the circumstances and identify any shortcomings or those responsible.

The service said protecting civilians and preserving their lives and safety remain among its primary responsibilities, adding that it would act according to the law and applicable regulations.

It also pledged to disclose the facts fully and take the necessary measures based on the findings of the investigations.

FYI

The statement marks a shift from the CTS’s initial account of the Kirkuk operation, which focused on the counterterrorism action and the militants involved. Earlier reporting on the September 27 clash in Altun Kupri said two ISIS militants were killed and another captured, with initial reports also recording civilian and CTS casualties.

The latest CTS statement specifically acknowledges the deaths of two civilians and the formation of investigative committees. That makes the circumstances of the civilian deaths a central outstanding question; the service has not yet publicly assigned responsibility for them.

The operation also comes amid continued Iraqi security operations against ISIS remnants in the Kirkuk area, where the group has maintained clandestine networks despite losing its territorial control in Iraq in 2017.

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