17 ISIS terrorists including 3 leaders killed in western Iraq
Two military vehicles belonging to the Iraqi Army. Photo: Security Media Cell
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi army announced on Wednesday that 17 terrorists belonging to ISIS, including three leaders, were killed in a military operation in Anbar governorate in western Iraq, according to the statement of spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Yahya Rasoul.
“We have qualitative and proactive operations on an almost daily basis, the latest of which was the operation carried out in the area east of the Al-Rutba district in Anbar governorate, by the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service,” Rasoul said during his participation in the second annual Erbil Forum.
“The operation led to the killing of 17 terrorists, and we believe that these terrorists include three leaders,” Rasoul explained.
“ISIS capabilities significantly declined after the strikes it receive,” Rasoul stated.
Rasoul indicated that members of ISIS groups are hiding in sites located between the areas under the control of Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi security forces.
Rasould stressed that operations carried out by the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi security forces in areas where ISIS members are hiding will not give these terrorists the opportunity launch attacks.
Rasould explained that the Iraqi army is focusing on securing the Iraqi-Syrian border, which is now fortified, as the Iraqi border forces are controlling this area, especially that areas in northeastern Syria are still under the control of ISIS terrorists.
In December 2017, Iraq announced the liberation of all its territories from the grip of the ISIS, after nearly three and a half years of confrontations with the terrorist group that occupied about a third of the country.