The dreaded ultra-radical Islamic State (IS) has killed at least 13 security personnel in Kirkuk, Iraq, announcing its comeback in its home base from where it had been routed in 2017.

Since then, the IS had migrated to other geographies including Afghanistan, where it had branded itself as the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISK).

The attack in Kirkuk, a famed oil city, which was once attacked by Alexander, took place late in the night after IS militants targeted a police check point in a village near the town of al-Rashad, about 250 km north of Baghdad.

Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that the IS militants also blasted roadside bombs leading to the village. The attackers fled after reinforcements arrived.

Comprising Sunni militants in a Shia-majority country, the IS has also targeted civilians in Iraq.

The US and Iraq have reached an understanding to withdraw American soldiers by the end of this year. The European forces are likely to stay in the country irrespective of the American decision.  Analysts say that IS, which has been the chief advocate of forming a caliphate by capturing state power in a resource rich country could be sensing a power vacuum in oil-rich Iraq after the exit of US forces.