In western Iraq, PMU launches new anti-terror operation

RNA - Commander of Anbar Operations for the PMU Qassim Musleh said in a press statement that his fellow fighters had mounted a multi-pronged offensive, codenamed 'Leaders of Victory,' on Friday to clear the districts of Medisisa‎ and Salloum Forest, which lie south of the town of Qa'im and nearly 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad, besides the areas of Akra and Hamid Turky, Shaleej village and Beit Ajaj region.

Muslem said Hashd al-Sha’abi forces were pressing ahead with the operation irrespective of far-flung geographic areas and rugged terrains that terrorists use to either hide or camouflage.

He emphasized that the campaign will continue until its goals are fully achieved.

On September 21, 2019, the PMU announced the conclusion of a campaign against the sleeper cells of Daesh in the central parts of the country as well as a sector of the vast western desert leading to the border with Saudi Arabia.

The PMU media bureau announced in a statement at the time that the fifth phase of the 'Will of Victory' operation, which had started on September 16, was wrapped up as different units and forces of Iraqi military forces cleared the remote territory between the provinces of Karbala, Najaf and Anbar.

Iraqi forces cleared plains in a 4,800-kilometer square area in Anbar during the operation’s fifth phase. The forces detained 21 Daesh suspects.

Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters have played a major role in the liberation of Daesh-held areas to the south, northeast and north of the Iraqi capital, ever since the terrorists launched an offensive in the country, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks.

In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to integrate Hashd al-Sha’abi, which was formed shortly after the emergence of Daesh in Iraq in 2014, into the military.

Former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi declared the end of military operations against Daesh in the Arab country on December 9, 2017.