Iraqi troops destroy three hideouts, two tunnels of Islamic State in Salahuddin
A Shi’ite volunteer wearing a mask, who has joined the Iraqi army to fight against the predominantly Sunni militants from the radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), looks on during a parade on a street in Kanaan, Diyala province, June 26, 2014.
Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi pro-government forces destroyed on Sunday three hideouts and two tunnels of Islamic State in northwestern Salahuddin province.
“A joint force from al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) and Salahuddin Operations Command launched a wide-scale military operation in 30 villages, northwest of Salahuddin, managing to destroy three hideouts and two tunnels that were used by Islamic State militants,” Almaalomah news website quoted the paramilitary force of al-Hashd al-Shaabi as saying.
“The troops also detonated 70 explosive charges,” the force said, adding that two of its fighters were injured when a booby-trapped house exploded.
Popular Mobilization Forces have actively backed the Iraqi government’s military campaign against IS since 2014, when they were formed upon a top Shia clergy edict to counter the Sunni Jihadist group.
PMF won official recognition as a national force late 2016, becoming under the command of the prime minister, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces.
Former prime minister Haider al-Abadi has recurrently defended PMFs against domestic and foreign accusations of committing human rights violations.