PMUs repulse IS attack near Iraqi-Syrian borders, kill eight militants

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Eight Islamic State militants were killed as the Shia-led paramilitary troops thwarted two separate attacks against the Iraqi-Syrian borders.

In a statement on Monday, the media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) quoted Ahmed Nasrallah, deputy commander of the 13th brigade, said “troops repelled on Monday two separate attacks for IS against villages on the Iraqi-Syrian borders. The militants launched attacks after they attempted infiltration, which left eight members killed and four vehicles destroyed.”

On Saturday, PMUs repulsed an IS attack near the borders, leaving ten militants killed.

In May, Hadi al-Amiri, head of Badr Organization, which works under the umbrella of the PMUs said troops reached to Iraqi-Syrian borders.

The target behind expanding the control of borders, according to PMUs officials, is to prevent infiltration of of IS militants from Syria to Iraq.

Previously, the troops liberated the remaining villages in the vicinity of Qairawan, a main Islamic State bastion which links between Tal Afar town and the Syrian borders, and Baaj, after the troops announced full liberation of Qairawan.

PMUs, an alliance of more than 60 mostly Shia militias, are recognized by the government as a national force under the Prime Minister’s command.

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has recently vowed to keep the PMUs for several years and announced increase of their budget to raise the fighters’ wages.