Four Islamic State hideouts destroyed in Diyala military operation
Paramilitary fighters and military vehicles are seen during a military operation to retake positions held by Islamic State militants, on the outskirts of Muqdadiyah in Diyala province, north of Baghdad January 25, 2015. Picture taken January 25, 2015. REUTERS
Diyala (Iraqinews.com) – Iraqi troops destroyed on Monday four Islamic State hotbeds during a wide-scale military operation in Diyala.
Speaking to Alsumaria News TV channel, Commander of Tigris Operations Lieutenant General Mazhar al-Ezzawi said, “A security force made up of the Iraqi police, army and al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) carried out a wide-scale military operation in al-Nada area, 50 km east of Baqubah, destroying four hotbeds for the militant Islamic State group.”
“The troops also set fire to a motorbike and an explosive-laden vehicle that was used by IS militants for moving within al-Nada area,” he noted.
Ezzawi pointed out that the military operation, backed by Iraqi Air Forces, was meant to “eliminate Islamic State remnants and restore security in Diyala.”
In January 2015, Iraqi forces announced liberation of Diyala province from Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
The province has seen months of fighting between Iraqi troops and IS militants especially in the Jalawla and Saadiyah areas in the province’s north and areas near the town of Muqdadiyah.
In November, Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence earlier with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.