Paramilitary troops repel IS attack, kill six militants near Syrian borders
Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) pound an Islamic State gathering in western Mosul.
(IraqiNews.com) The pro-government paramilitary troops have repelled an Islamic State attack, killing six militants on borders with Syria.
“Al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces] repulsed an attack by IS in Tal Safuk region, on borders with Syria. Troops killed six militants and burned down a vehicle loaded with weapons,” a statement by the PMFs media service said on Friday.
The Shia-led PMFs were formed in 2014 as per an edict by Iraq’s top Shia clergy to combat the militant group. The troops have been actively engaged in the government’s campaign against the Islamic State that ran since mid-October, and contributed to the campaign by regaining control over IS holdouts near the Syrian borders.
IS has increasingly targeted security forces and civilians across Iraq over the past months coinciding with operations by the U.S.-backed Iraqi government forces which sought to retake areas occupied by the group since 2014.
Iraqi troops managed to retake several IS strongholds including Mosul and Tal Afar in Nineveh, Hawija in Kirkuk and Annah in Anbar. Only Qaim and neighboring Rawa currently remain in IS grip.
In a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a weekly press briefing on Tuesday that 2017 would witness the end of Islamic State’s existence in Iraq.
.