Seven Islamic State militants killed as troops repulse attack near Syrian borders
Soldiers of al-Hashd al-Shaabi.
“The 29th brigade of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) repelled an attack by IS against Tal Sufuk on the Iraqi-Syrian borders,” the service said. “The foiled attack left seven militants killed and a vehicle destroyed.”
The border region, according to the website, “usually encounters armed attacks and mortar shelling by the militants from inside Syria.”
Earlier this week, the Iraqi Media News Agency quoted Farhan Mohamed al-Duleimi, member of the Anbar provincial council as saying that intelligence information from Syria confirmed presence of IS members near al-BuKamal region in Syria to launch attacks against Qaim, located near Iraqi-Syrian borders, and that they prepared for suicide attacks to target military units deployed on borders between Iraq and Syria.
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.