ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A mullah who pledged his allegiance to ISIS and was in contact with the group since 2012 confessed the connection to Kurdistan's security forces and admitted to coordinating last month's deadly attack on the Erbil governorate offices.

The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) released a taped confession from Mullah Ismail Susayi on Thursday, admitting his connections to ISIS and with the three gunmen who attacked who the offices of the Erbil governorate on the morning on July 23.


The KRSC also provided taped voice messages from Susayi for ISIS leaders since 2014. Susayi informed ISIS on Peshmerga capabilities and locations. He also tried to send a voice message to ISIS leader Abu Bakir al-Baghdadi, according to the KRSC.

Additionally, Susayi said he has collected weapons and money for ISIS.

The three gunmen took two hostages, killing one. Security forces engaged the gunmen, killing all three.

The KRSC also announced on Thursday it arrested two more young men for helping in the operation: Mohammed Jabar Salih, 19, and Mohammed Sherzad Yasin, 19.

Both gave taped confessions of their involvement in the attack.

Susayi was detained in early June for suspected ties to ISIS.

Rudaw