Defense Minister: ISIS controls 17% of Iraqi territory after it was 40%

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – On Saturday, Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi asserted, that ISIS control over Iraq territory has diminished from 40 percent to 17 percent as a result of the military operations led by the security forces backed by al-Hashed al-Sha”bi, while pointed out that the next days will witness the liberation of the rest of the land.

During a press conference held at the Ministry of Defense, al-Obeidi stated: “The ISIS had controlled 40% of the territory of Iraq, and today the efforts of the security forces and al-Hashed al-Sha’bi as well as the sons of the clans have diminished ISIS control over those territories to 17%.”

Al-Obeidi added, “The following days will witness the liberation of the rest of the territory which is still controlled by ISIS in the provinces of al-Anbar, Nineveh and Salahuddin.”

Noteworthy, Iraq is witnessing an extraordinary security situation, as military operations continue to expel ISIS from the areas under its control, while the international coalition carries out air strikes targeting ISIS sites in those areas resulting in casualties in its ranks.