Iraqi military denies coordination with SDF on controlling common borders
Iraqi-Jordanian borders.
*Correction: article corrected to replace Syria with Syrian Democratic Forces
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi military has denied coordination with Syrian Democratic Forces over controlling troops between the two countries.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said “there is no coordination between Iraq and Syrian Democratic Forces. However, the meeting between the commander of Jazirah Operations with the commander of Syrian Democratic Forces on the borders was for coordination.”
Troops resume military operations to purge the Anbar desert from remaining IS members.
On Monday, several Islamic State militants hiding inside a tunnel in al-Badiya island, near Hit city were reportedly being besieged by security troops in west of Anbar. On the same day, seven IS members were reportedly killed as joint troops of army’s seventh division and tribes carried out an operation in the desert, north of Baghdadi town,
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.