Islamic State ambushes Iraqi Shia-led force, kills 27 fighters

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly Shia militias, said the attackers were disguised in army uniforms and the clashes lasted for at least two hours.

Islamic State militants have ambushed a group of Iraq’s Shia-led paramilitary fighters, killing at least 27.

Shia Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) with Iraqi army gather on the outskirts of Tal Afar. (Reuters)

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly Shia militias, said on Monday the attack took place the previous night in al-Saadounya area, southwest of the northern city of Kirkuk, when the paramilitaries were conducting overnight raids.

The PMF said the attackers were disguised in army uniforms. It said the clashes lasted for at least two hours and that some of the militants were killed while others fled the area.

Brig Gen Yahya Rasool, a spokesman for Iraqi military, blamed IS “sleeper cells” and said Iraqi forces were searching the area to find the perpetrators.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its Amaq news agency.