Russian Federation says 11 IS-linked fighters killed in North Caucasus

Russian Federation said today it had killed 10 fighters linked to the extremist Islamic State group in a special operation in its volatile North Caucasus region.

Russia’s national anti-terrorism committee stated in a press release quoted by TASS information company that eleven “bandits” have been killed in a primary raid close to the town of Nalchik.

‘The armed group organised channels for residents of the republic to be sent to the territory of the Syrian Arabic Republic so that they could take part in activities by terrorist groups, ‘ the anti-terrorism committee said in a statement.

Early Sunday morning, Russian special forces launched a counter-terror operation in a forest near Nalchik, capital of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, where they spotted a gang of militants. Those killed had sworn allegiance to IS this year, a source in the region’s law enforcement authorities told RIA Novosti news agency.

Earlier this month, Russian Federation said it had killed the supposed head of an IS-linked gang in Kabardino-Balkaria, saying he had vowed allegiance to IS and organized the murders of several officials, gunning down one in front of his son.

Islamists in the predominately Muslim North Caucuses have been flocking to join Islamic State since it declared a wilayaat, or province, in the region.

Kabardino-Balkaria is often seen as one of many extra peaceable elements of Russia’s North Caucasus. Last week, Russia intensified its airstrikes in Syria in retaliation for the October 31 bombing of a passenger plane in Egypt, carrying mostly Russian tourists, for which IS claimed responsibility.