Iraqi troops destroy three Islamic State tunnels in Salahuddin
One of the tunnels that was used by the Islamic State in Mosul.
Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi military announced on Wednesday the destruction of three Islamic State tunnels in Makhoul Mountains in the northern province of Salahuddin.
“Security forces of Salahuddin Operations Command carried out a military campaign in Makhoul Mountains, managing to destroy three tunnels that were used by IS militants,” Alghad Press quoted spokesman for the Security Media Center Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool as saying in a statement.
“The troops found foodstuffs, blankets and bedding inside the tunnels,” the statement added.
Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in November 2017 with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.
IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.
Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.