Iraqi paramilitary troops target Islamic State members inside Syria
Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units)
A statement by the media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said on Thursday evening that troops “shelled Islamic State members gathering at the Syrian al-Desheisha village, which neighbors Tal Sufuk region.”
The targeted militants, according to the statement, “were trying to reach to the troops deployed along the borders, taking advantage of the bad weather conditions.”
Last week, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said troops managed to secure the Syrian side of borders and eliminate Islamic State members in Upper Euphrates.
The Iraqi-Syrian borders are under the control of joint troops of military and border guards.
In December, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members. However, 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 IS 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.