24 IS militants killed as Paramilitary troops repulse attack, southwest Mosul
Fighters of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units)
The media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces] said, “troops managed to foil a wide-scale attack by IS in the desert of Hatra, southwest of Mosul.”
“The attack left 24 militants, including suicide bombers, killed,” the statement added.
Hatra region was liberated in an offensive by PMFs in late April.
On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25000 militants were killed throughout the campaign, which started in October 2016.
Since the city was declared free, security troops continue to comb western Mosul areas for hidden IS cells. Despite the victory over IS there in the city, observers say IS is believed to constitute a security threat even after the group’s defeat at its main havens across Iraqi provinces.
Having recaptured Hawija in Kirkuk, Mosul and Tal Afar in Nineveh and Annah town in Anbar, Iraqi troops still have only western Anbar’s towns of Rawa and Qaim remain under the militant’s control.
Around four million civilians were internally displaced, while thousands of others fled toward neighboring countries including Syria, Turkey and other European countries, since IS emerged to proclaim its self-styled “caliphate”.