Paramilitary troops repulse Islamic State infiltration attempt into southwest of Kirkuk
Soldiers of al-Hashd al-Shaabi.
In a statement, al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said troops “repulsed an Islamic State attack toward al-Harariyat and al-Fataha regions and thwarted an infiltration attempt by Islamic State members from the river side toward the two regions.”
On Monday, a statement by PMFs said troops along with Federal Police repelled an attack carried out by 20 militants in Qurret Tabah village, southwest of the province.
Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.
Thousands of Islamic State 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.
In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.