Islamic State leader killed in operation by paramilitary troops in Salahuddin
Iraqi government forces in Hamreen Mountains in Diyala.
“Troops of the 88th brigade of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) carried out an operation at Makhoul mountains, during which an Islamic State leader, who was hiding at one of the havens, was killed,” the source from PMFs told Baghdad Today.
“The personnel managed to sneak toward the place, where the militant was hiding. They killed him after confrontations,” he added.
Earlier on the day, IS members launched an attack against the ninth brigade near al-Dour city, near Mutaibija, which left four PMFs personnel killed and three others wounded. Three militants were also killed.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced, earlier this month, 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. Since then, forces took back the group’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija, and Anbar’s Annah, Rawa and Qaim.
The war against IS has so far displaced at least five million people. Thousands of others fled toward neighboring countries including Syria, Turkey and other European countries, since IS emerged to proclaim its self-styled “caliphate”.