Iraqi troops kill 35 extremists in Anbar and prevent attacks

Iraqi governmental troops managed to kill over 35 extremists loyal to ISIS during the military campaign launched on Saturday to inspect Anbar desert. Meanwhile federal police forces prevented a number of suicide attacks after the success of a number of extremist elements to infiltrate to one of the liberated villages south of Mousl in the framework of the current military operation to liberate Iraq’s second largest city from the grip of ISIS extremist militias.

Federal Police have declared killing four suicide bombers after thwarting an attack by Islamic State militants, north of Hamam al-Alil neighborhood. “Troops in al-Areej region, north of Hamam al-Alil confronted an attack by IS militants against our units there,” Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat, Federal Police chief, said in statements on Sunday.

“Four suicide bombers were killed, while the rest, who fled toward villages and hills, are still being followed,” he added. Some Iraqi policemen were reportedly killed during the attack, news reports mentioned.

The group has sustained severe losses in personnel and ground since an offensive was launched in mid-October to retake Mosul, the second-largest Iraqi city and the militants’ last urban stronghold in the country. The U.S.-led coalition had estimated the number of remaining IS militants in Mosul by less than 1000. In related news, military reinforcements were sent from eastern to western Mosul to take part in liberating the remaining districts still held by IS.

Al-Tahreer News quoted a military source as saying that the Joint Operations Command sent troops to Halila village to participate in liberating of northwestern districts in Mosul including Hawi al-Kanisah, al-Hermat, and Tammuz 17 and Mesherfa. Iraqi troops currently control 4000 kilometers of the city, the U.S. State Department tweeted on Friday.

In the same context, Iraqi Ministry of Defense’s War Media Cell announced, on Sunday, killing 35 terrorists, in addition to destroying a cache of weapons and two hideouts, west of Anbar. The cell said in a statement that Jazeera and Anbar Operations Commands started to search the areas of Haditha Warehouses and Wadi Houran, southwest of Kabisa.

The operation resulted in the killing of 14 terrorists of the Islamic State, the statement added. Also, an international coalition air strike destroyed two hideouts and killed 21 terrorists in Rawa District. Noteworthy, Iraqi Army Aviation and international coalition air force are intensifying air strikes on important targets and headquarters, belonging to the Islamic State, west of Anbar, in preparation to liberate the area from the terrorist group’s control.

On the political side, Iraq’s National Alliance called Kurdistan’s President Masoud Barzani to apologize for the statements issued by Kurdish parliamentarian Sheikhwan Abdullah against the alliance and its president Ammar Al Hakim.

The Alliance’s member Fady Al Shameri expressed his resentment over the statements of Abdullah, saying that it has no relation with politics and balanced speech. He stressed that the Kurdish officials should apologize for such statements, describing them as irresponsible.

He added that such statements are considered clear violation against the greatest political bloc working to keep the unity of Iraq, adding that the parliamentarian should review Hakim’s televised statements in which he defended the unity of the country and raised the necessity of protecting its components.