Army launches extensive offensive to hound IS militants in Diyala
Iraqi Army. File photo.
Diyala (IraqiNews.com) An officer informed on Monday, that Iraqi army forces, backed by Army Aviation, launched an extensive offensive to chase the Islamic State militants in Diyala Province.
Captain Habib al-Shamri, said in a press statement, “Forces from the army’s 5th infantry brigade, backed by Army Aviation helicopters, launched a wide-scale military operation in Houd al-Zor area, near Mukdadiyah District, north of Diyala, to hound the members of the Islamic State group.”
“The operation was launched in uninhabited mountain areas, which consider safe havens for the Islamic State militants,” Shamri added.
The areas northeast of Diyala witnessed a surge of violence and increased attacks by the Islamic State militants on security forces and volunteer fighters, in the last few weeks.
The IS fighters launch their attacks from rugged mountain area such as Hamrin Mountains, areas east of Salahuddin and south of Kirkuk Province, while the military operations launched by Iraqi forces did not prevent the group’s attacks.
The Islamic State group captured large areas of Diyala in 2014, while Iraqi army, backed by US-led international coalition, conducted extensive military operation and managed to retake all the captured areas before the end of 2015.