Paramilitary troops thwart Islamic State attack, western Anbar
Soldiers of al-Hashd al-Shaabi.
A source from the government told Alsumaria News that the IS launched an attack on a headquarter of al-Hashd al-Shaabi north of al-Waleed border crossing.
“Violent clashes took place between al-Hashd al-Shaabi forces and IS militants,” the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Al-Hashd al-Shaabi repulsed the attack and caused losses among the attackers”.
Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, an alliance of more than 60 mostly Shia militias, has been actively engaged in the government’s campaign against the Islamic State that ran since mid-October, and contributed to the campaign by regaining control over IS holdouts near the Syrian borders.
Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
Bombings and armed attacks are seen on almost a daily basis against security members, paramilitary groups and civilians since the Iraqi government launched a wide-scale campaign to retake IS-occupied areas in 2016.
More than 500 Iraqis were killed and injured during the month of July due to violence and armed conflicts, according to a monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).