Iraqi Forces Large-Scale Mop-up Operation at Border with Syria

The Iraqi colonel reported that the popular forces of Hashd al-Shaabi and Tribal fighters have launched a large-scale operation under a joint command to root out ISIL terrorists from a very large area covering al-Mahlabiyeh region, South of Tal Afar region, Sinjar region, Um Jaris region at the international border up to al-Ba’aj al-Qirwan al-Karah.

Rasoul further said that the General Command of Salahuddin Operation has started its mop-up operation in regions South of al-Hadhar, North of al-Siniyeh and Wadi al-Ma’alef and North of Baghdad to hunt the remaining pockets of ISIL terrorists.

He went on to say that other units of the Iraqi forces have launched similar mop-up operation in Akhshat, al-Rutbah and North of the international highway between Iraq and borders with Jordan in Anbar province.

Rasoul added that other Iraqi units under the command of Jazeera Operation have kicked off their cleansing operation in upper regions of the Euphrates River from a region between Rawa and al-Ramana in Western Anbar up to the Northwestern borders with Syria.

On Friday, the Iraqi forces positioned along the Syrian border carried out a rare attack against a group of ISIL terrorists inside Syria’s Deir Ezzur province.

The artillery and missile units of the Iraqi forces, led Hashd al-Shaabi, struck the ISIL forces in Deir Ezzur province.

According to a statement from Hashd al-Shaabi, the forces struck the ISIL’s positions after they identified a terrorist gathering near the Iraqi border-town of Tal Sufouk.

The statement added that scores of ISIL terrorists were either killed or wounded as a result of their attack.