Two IS militants killed as paramilitary troops repel attack on border area with Syria
Representational photo
Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – Paramilitary troops repelled on Monday an attack by Islamic State militants on a border area between Iraq and Syria, Alforat News quoted the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as saying in a statement.
“The PMF’s 1st brigade repelled a fierce attack launched by Islamic State militants on Tall Safuk area on the Iraqi-Syrian border, killing two of the attackers,” the statement read.
“The troops also destroyed a vehicle that was used by the terrorist group in the area,” the statement read. “Many of IS militants fled the scene after the attack.”
Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
The surge in violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted in over 3 million internally displaced persons across Iraq and left more than 11 million in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Thousands of IS militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and a U.S.-led international coalition, was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group.
Since then, forces took back the group’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija, and each of Annah, Rawa and Qaim in Anbar.
Last month, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.”