Russian security forces conducted a counterterrorism operation in Ingushetia, a republic in Russia’s volatile North Caucasus region, resulting in the death of six alleged militants. The operation, reported by TASS news agency, took place in the town of Karabulak, where authorities had earlier introduced counter-terrorism emergency powers following an attack on law enforcement personnel by the alleged militants in a residential building.
The confrontation occurred late on Saturday when the six individuals barricaded themselves in an apartment on the third floor of a residential block. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) of Russia stated that the operation led to a shootout, with surrounding streets being cordoned off and residents of the building evacuated for safety. Social media posts from locals depicted the intensity of the operation, with heavy gunfire and explosions audible from the site.
According to the NAC, three of the deceased were previously on Russia’s wanted list, implicated in violent acts against state security forces, including a notable attack on a traffic police unit last March that resulted in the death of three officers. Security forces recovered an array of weaponry and explosives from the apartment, indicating the militants’ preparedness for prolonged resistance.
The operation, while successful in neutralizing the immediate threat, relays the persistent instability in the North Caucasus region, where Islamic militant activities have posed significant security challenges over the past decades. Ingushetia and neighboring Chechnya have been the epicenters of insurgent violence, including two full-scale wars between Islamic rebels and Russian troops in Chechnya.
Despite the official suppression of the insurgency, sporadic attacks continue.Â
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