Iraqi F-16s Destroy ISIS Outposts in Zghaitun Valley, Kirkuk

The Security Media Cell announced that F-16 aircraft of the Iraqi Air Force carried out, on Tuesday 13 October 2026, three concentrated airstrikes targeting outposts of ISIS remnants in Zghaitun Valley within the area of responsibility of Kirkuk Operations Command.

The cell said in an official statement that the operation was carried out based on intelligence information from the Military Intelligence Directorate, and in coordination with the Air Reconnaissance and Surveillance Center in the Office of the Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces.

The statement added that the strikes, carried out by what it described as the "Iraqi air hawks," resulted in the complete destruction of all targeted outposts and achieved precise hits, noting that additional details will be announced later.

The initial statement did not determine whether members of the group were present inside those sites at the time of the strikes, a matter that remains unclear according to the statement.

The strike is part of efforts to pursue remnants of the group in the rugged areas of the north, where the Air Force continues to conduct reconnaissance sorties and airstrikes on the group's hideouts based on information from national intelligence agencies.

Security forces had continued in recent weeks operations around Kirkuk and Hawija to track wanted individuals as part of a plan to strengthen security control in areas that have seen group activity, with ongoing coordination between the army, police and the Counter‑Terrorism Service, and were also seen air sorties by the Air Force over the skies of Baghdad recently as part of responsibilities to protect the airspace and pursue remnants of terrorist groups.