WASHINGTON .- Despite the anti-Islamic State campaign being waged in both Iraq and Syria, the terror group can still attack coalition forces and their local partners in both countries, Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said.
“We are seeing small pockets of ISIS still in areas like Kirkuk and Anbar provinces,” Ryan told VOA in an interview, using an acronym for the terror group. “They are trying to disrupt civilian services, like water and electricity, to try to get the people against the government.”
Earlier this week, a bombing at a market near the Iraqi city of Mosul killed at least six people, including two soldiers. Iraqi officials accused IS of carrying out the deadly attack.
Mosul was an IS stronghold until July 2017, when Iraqi forces, with the help of the U.S.-led coalition, recaptured it. The northern Iraqi city has occasionally been targeted by IS suicide attacks. VOA