Seven Islamic State members killed in security operation, west of Ramadi
Islamic State militants.
“Joint troops of army’s seventh division and tribes carried out an operation in the desert, north of Baghdadi town, west of Anbar,” Qutri al-Obeidi, a leader with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces), told AlSumaria News.
“The troops managed to kill seven IS militants, who were hiding inside a rest house near al-Saridiya village,”Obeidi added.
Troops resume military operations to purge the Anbar desert from remaining IS members.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced on Saturday full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.
Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, have been fighting since October 2016 to retake territories Islamic State had occupied.
Abadi’s declaration came after Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Upper Euphrates and Jazirah Combing Operations, announced liberation of all Iraqi lands from IS.
In November, Abadi said his country has defeated Islamic State over the military level, but will declare final victory after desert areas are purged of militants. Earlier in the month, Iraqi forces recaptured Anbar’s western town of Rawa, the very last bastion under Islamic State control.