Iraqi Jets Intensify Airstrikes against ISIL in Kirkuk

"Iraqi jets shelled in the evening pivotal IS locations in al-Rashad and the vicinity of Taza region, south of Kirkuk,”  the source said, Al Sumeriya reported.

The source, who preferred anonymity, added that locations included the group’s headquarters.

"The air raids were based on coordination between Iraqi intelligence services which provided data about those locations,” the source added. "One of those targeted headquarters is the so-called Kirkuk State, which was completely-destroyed.”

Earlier, the Joint Operations Command announced completing the first phase of operations to recapture Hawija, the group’s holdout in Southwestern Kirkuk.

Launched last week, the operation managed to take over al-Zab river region, the Northern part of Makhoul mountains and several villages west of Tigris River.

On Thursday, Brig. Gen. Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said the number of ISIL members in Hawija falls between 800 and 1,500. On the same day, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command announced launch of first phase of operations to liberate Hawija and Western Shirqat.

Hawija and other neighboring regions, west of Kirkuk, have been held by ISIL since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim a "rule"  in Iraq and Syria.