Baghdad: The Ministry of Defense issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying the incident involving an improvised explosive device (IED) in Wadi al-Shay, Kirkuk Governorate. The statement aimed to address circulating reports and provide an accurate account of the situation.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Ministry stated that the explosion occurred while a force from the 11th Division was conducting a search operation. The team was tasked with verifying remnants from a previous airstrike when an IED detonated near a Humvee belonging to the division.

The explosion resulted in injuries to three members of the force, including two officers. The injured personnel were promptly evacuated to a hospital, where their condition was reported as stable. The Ministry emphasized that the relevant authorities have begun investigating the incident’s circumstances and will release more details once the information is fully compiled.