Islamic State members fled western desert toward Syrian borders: PMFs

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The pro-government paramilitary troops have said several Islamic State militants escaped the western desert toward Syrian borders.

“The intelligence of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) confirmed that several IS members fled the desert toward the Syrian borders,” the media service said in a statement on Friday.

Troops are advancing from seven directions in the depth of al-Badiya desert and started on Friday combing several villages from remnants of the war.

Iraqi joint troops continued on Friday the second phase of military operations to comb the western desert, ahead of declaring the full liberation of Iraqi territories.

In a statement, Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Upper Euphrates and Jazirah Combing Operations, said army and PMFs began a wide-scale campaign to liberate Jazirah region between Nineveh and Anbar.

The operation seeks that troops meet in the desert between northern Nineveh and western Anbar in a road that stretches for 200 square kilometers, adjacent to borders with Syria.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said during his weekly press in November that his country has defeated Islamic State over the military level, but will declare final victory after desert areas are purged of militants.

Brig. Gen. Yehia Rasool, spokesperson for the Joint Operations Command said in remarks last week that the second phase of operations to clear borders near Syria from Islamic State militants will launch soon. An area of 14,000 out of 29,000 square kilometers in the desert has been cleared by IS militants.

Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, have been fighting since October 2016 to retake territories Islamic State had occupied.