Paramilitary troops kill four Islamic State members, destroy hideouts in Salahuddin
Forces from al-Hashd al-Shaabi.
The media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said on its website that fighters of the 51st brigade accomplished its duty purging Makhoul mountains.
“Troops managed in seven days to destroy eight tunnels and 20 hideouts with weapons inside. Four militants hiding inside were killed.”
Earlier this week, Jabbar al-Maamouri, senior leader with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said in remarks that the militant group executed some of its members in Salahuddin province for refusing to carry out suicide attacks.
In December, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-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. Since then, forces took back the group’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija, and Anbar’s Annah, Rawa and Qaim.
The war against IS has so far displaced at least five million people. Thousands of others fled toward neighboring countries including Syria, Turkey and other European countries, since IS emerged to proclaim its self-styled “caliphate”.