Iraqi army troops to move toward border exit with Syria

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Troops of the Iraqi army are getting ready to advance toward Faysh Khabur exit, between Iraq and Syria, within the coming few hours, a source from the Counter-Terrorism Service said on Monday

“CTS troops will move from the vicinity of Zumar, northwest of Mosul, within the coming few hours toward Zakhu in Duhok to reach Faysh Khabur,” the source told Alghad Press.

“The border was located within Mosul before 2003,” he added.

On Sunday, the Kurdish Peshmerga reportedly blocked the main road linking between Sinjar, in Nineveh, and Duhuk, to prevent federal troops’ advance toward after receiving information that indicated plans by the federal troops to gain control on the Faysh Kahbur exit.

Sinjar is currently controlled by Iraqi troops, after Peshmerga withdrew the region, while federal forces advanced to regain disputed regions.

Iraqi government forces approached Friday the southern borders of Erbil, capital of semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, shortly after engaging in clashes with the region’s forces in Qush Taba and Altun Kupri in northern Kirkuk.

Iraqi troops, backed by Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), took over Kirkuk province from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters last week, fulfilling instructions previously made by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to retake areas where sovereignty is disputed with Kurdistan Region’s Government