Hawzah News Agency (Kirkuk, Iraq) - A source from Kirkuk told Alsumaria News that one of the most prominent bomb experts of the ISIS terrorist group, known as Mullah, and two of his aides were killed when a bomb exploded during an attempt to detonate a road on the outskirts of Hawija. 

The source said that ISIS terrorists were attempting to plant a large number of roadside bombs and mines to block the advance of the Iraqi forces. 

A local source in Kirkuk said on Wednesday that seven more ISIS leaders were killed in air strikes southwest of the province. 

The Iraqi troops launched on Wednesday a new operation as part of the second phase of the Hawija operation to clear the center of the city and its surrounding areas, including Riyadh town, from the ISIS terrorist group. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on Friday, September 29, the launching of the second phase of Hawija liberation operation.