Security forces repel Islamic State attack, northeastern Diyala
Islamic State militants. File photo.
“Police checkpoints deployed near Tawakol region, north of Muqdadiyah were attacked by IS cells,” the source told Alghad Press on Friday.
“Troops managed to repel the attack without casualties,” the source added. The region, from where fire was opened, was combed. Situation has been under control.
A government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition has been fighting, since October 2016, the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.
Though the group is nearing a total loss of its territorial influence in Iraq through the Rawa battle, with tens of thousands of local and foreign fighters either killed or remaining at large, many believe it will still pose a security threat in Iraq by maintaining dormant cells and staging lone wolf attacks.
Earlier on the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi congratulated the armed forces and people on liberation of Rawa in record time.
Interior Minister Qassim al-Aaraji said that the liberation of Rawa marked an end for the military presence of IS in Iraq.
According to United Nations counts, the war against IS has displaced five million people.