Al-Hashd al-Shaabi repulses Islamic State attack south of Shirqat

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) The pro-government Shi’ite militias of al-Hashd al-Shaabi has thwarted an attack by the Islamic State south of Shirqat town, Salahuddin governorate.

“Troops of the 99^th brigade spotted IS elements south of Shirqat town where they confronted and forced them to escape,” al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) said in a statement on Thursday.

Last week, PMUs killed three IS fighters in strikes that targeted a rest house belonging to IS in Ishaqi region, south of Salahuddin.

IS still holds a few areas in each of Anbar, Salahuddin, Diyala and Kirkuk.

The eastern coast of Shirqat, which lies on the west bank of the Tigris river in Salahuddin province, is still under the IS control, while the western coast of the city was liberated few months ago.

In September, Iraqi army said its forces recaptured the town, located south of Mosul, after being surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and the Shia-led paramilitary troops.

Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, an alliance of more than 60 mostly Shia militias, has been actively engaged in the government’s campaign against the Islamic State that ran since mid-October, and contributed to the campaign by regaining control over IS holdouts near the Syrian borders.