Iraqi Commander:

US Choppers Helping ISIL Terrorists in Hamreen Region Overnight

Rasa - The US helicopters have helped the ISIL terrorists in Hamreen mountains in several nighttime operations during the past several weeks, a senior commander of the Iraqi popular forces in the region disclosed on Sunday.

News ID: 426567

Date: 15 January 2017 - 21:34

RNA - "It seems that the US troops are looking for a new scenario to disrupt the military operations in the city of Mosul through conflicts in Hamreen strategic mountains," the commander said.

The strategic Hamreen mountain stretches from Salahuddin to Diyala and from there to Kirkuk province. Hamreen mountain is of paramount strategic importance as it fully oversees the region.

Last Monday, the Iraqi volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) blocked the US soldiers' path to Mak'hul mountain in Northern Salahuddin and expelled them from the region once again.

The Arabic-language media reported that al-Nujaba Movement forces prevented the US army men from climbing Mak'hul mountain that is under the full control of Hashd al-Sha'abi and Iraqi security forces.

The al-Nujaba Movement noted that that the US soldiers and their armored vehicles intended to climb Mak'hul mountain but al-Nujaba forces pushed them back them from the region.

Last Saturday, the al-Nujaba Movement had also blocked the US army troops from climbing the same mountain.

In late October, Deputy Chief of the Nineveh Provincial Council Noureddin Qablan announced that the US-led coalition warplanes launched airstrikes on an army base in Nineveh province, killing several soldiers.

"The US fighter jets hit one of the military bases of Iraqi Army's 16th Division in a region North of Mosul, and the attack left four Iraqi soldiers dead," Qablan said.

He said that the US army confirmed the attack, calling it a "mistake".

Qablan said that it was not the first time the US warplanes hit the Iraqi army and volunteer forces  military positions, adding, "The US-led coalition has each time said that air raids were not deliberate."

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