Over ten IS members, soldier killed in clashes, west of Ramadi
One of the tunnels that was used by the Islamic State in Mosul.
“Troops of the 29th brigade and intelligence of Jazira Operations of the army, backed by tribes, carried out an operation that targeted al-Mahboubiya region in Hit Island, west of Ramadi, which left around 13 Islamic State militants killed and underground hideouts and tunnels destroyed,” Mohamed Mohannad, head of Hit municipal council, told Mawazin News website.
“Security troops managed to fill the tunnels after three hours of clashes with the militants, which left a soldier killed and another wounded.
On Monday, a security source said several IS militants hiding inside a tunnel in al-Badiya island, near Hit, are being besieged by security troops.
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. 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.
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.