Paramilitary troops pound IS militants gathering on Iraqi-Syrian borders
Artillery shelling. File photo.
In a statement on Thursday, al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said, “artillery of the first brigade shelled an IS gathering south of Tal Sufuq, on borders between Iraq and Syria.”
“Huge losses in lives and equipment were inflicted on the enemy due to shelling,” the statement said adding that the militant group tries to attract attention to ease pressure on militants in western Shirqat.
Earlier on the day, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy PMFs commander, said, “military operations carried out by the troops in cooperation with security services will take place through two stages; first one at western Shirqat, north of Tikrit, while the second at Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk.”
PMF announced earlier liberating five villages in northeast of Shirqat and killing several militants hiding at houses there.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, deputy commander of the Joint Operations Command announced on Thursday launch of first phase of operations to liberate Hawija and western Shirqat.
The Iraqi army said in September its forces recaptured the western coast of Shirqat, located south of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris river, after being surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and the pro-government Shi’ite militias. The eastern coast of Shirqat, is still under the IS control.