IS members infiltrate from Anbar to Babylon to target security personnel: Source

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State militants infiltrated over the night into north of Babylon province, a security source was quoted saying on Monday.

“IS members sneak over the night toward Jurf al-Sakhr region from Amiriyet al-Fallujah and al-Jazeera region in Anbar,” the source told Baghdad Today website.

“The militants infiltrate in the night to carry out terrorist crimes, plant bombs and target mobilization forces and security personnel,” he added.

Iraqi military, backed by al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) gained control on Jurf al-Sakhr and al-Rowiy’ia region, north of Babylon, in 2014.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced, in December, full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

Thousands of IS militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

Since then, forces took back the group’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija, and each of Annah, Rawa and Qaim in Anbar.

The war against IS has displaced nearly five million people, with tens of thousands of civilians and militants killed since the launch of the offensives to recapture occupied cities.