Iraqi troops prepare to attack IS members hiding in village, south of Mosul: Officer

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi troops will invade a village in south of Mosul, into which tens of Islamic State militants infiltrated, an officer from the Joint Operations Command said.

Speaking to BasNews website, Col. Falah Aref announced preparations to invade hawija village, which links between Qayyarah and Hammam al-Alil towns, south of Mosul, in the wake of infiltration of IS members, who are hiding there.

“Joint troops of army and police as well as Rapid Response forces are getting ready to invade Hawija village, which has wide areas of forests, helping militants to hide there,” he added.

“The invasion, will be backed by Iraqi fighter jets, after evacuating the residents through safe passageways,” Aref said. “The presence of IS members in the village endangers security of the south of Mosul.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared in July victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25,000 Islamic State militants were killed throughout the campaign.

Last month, Abadi announced 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.