PMUs kill 35 Islamic State fighters west of Mosul
Al-Hashd al-Sha’bi during operations in Tal Afar.
Al-Hashd’s media service has not yet, however, given count of the number of militants, but only said the forces eradicated a group of IS militants that had attacked PMUs at the 16th kilometer area, west of the city.
Al-Hashd al-Shaabi has been actively involved in the Iraqi government’s fight against Islamic State militants since its formation in 2014.
The conglomerate of dozens of Shia volunteer militias won state recognition as a national armed force in November.
Iraqi government forces, backed by PMUs and a U.S.-led international military coalition, have been fighting Islamic State since mid October to retake the city of Mosul, the group’s largest bastion in Iraq which fell in its grip in 2014.
Operations have so far managed to recapture the whole eastern section of the city, and preparations are underway to invade the west, where military commanders predict a tougher battle.
PMUs have been active around Islamic State’s supply lines coming from Syria, and had achieved a remarkable victory in November when they recaptured the Tal Afar military airport.