Security troops besiege IS militants hiding in tunnel, west of Anbar
A Iraqi federal police officer inspects a tunnel used by Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, February 4, 2017. Picture taken February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
“Several IS members were found hiding inside a tunnel in al-Badiya island, near Hit city,” the source told AlSumaria News. “Those militants previously killed a soldier as he knew about their hideout.”
Earlier on the day, seven IS members were reportedly killed as joint troops of army’s seventh division and tribes carried out an operation in the desert, north of Baghdadi town, west of Anbar.
Troops resume military operations to purge the Anbar desert from remaining IS members.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced on Saturday full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.
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.
Abadi’s declaration came after Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Upper Euphrates and Jazirah Combing Operations, announced liberation of all Iraqi lands from IS.
In November, Abadi said his country has defeated Islamic State over the military level, but will declare final victory after desert areas are purged of militants. Earlier in the month, Iraqi forces recaptured Anbar’s western town of Rawa, the very last bastion under Islamic State control.