Iraqi forces seize Daesh central telecom network in Sharqat

Iraqi pro-government Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Units, has managed to discover and neutralize the central telecommunication network of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the central-northern province of Salahuddin.

According to a report published on Iraq’s al-Masalah news website, the intelligence unit of the forces found the network, including a collection of devices designed for long-distance communication, huge wireless sets and their batteries, in the recently-liberated city of Sharqat, some 80 kilometers south of the city of Mosul, on Friday.

The report added that the heavily camouflaged systems were used by terrorists to make contact with other members of the terror group in Mosul, Daesh’s de facto capital in Iraq, and Hawijah in Kirkuk province, among other places.

Iraqi forces took full control of Sharqat on September 22, and raised the national Iraqi flag over government buildings there, after the city fell to Daesh in 2014.

Iraqi forces are preparing for a major offensive to liberate Mosul, Daesh’s last major bastion on Iraqi soil. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has, time and again, pledged that the country’s forces will win back the city by the end of the year.

Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists mounted an offensive there more than two years ago, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory.

The militants have been committing heinous crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.

Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.