Iraqi Volunteer Forces Liberate 44 Villages, Kill 725 ISIL in One Month

Rasa - The spokesman for Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces said the pro-government volunteer forces have managed to win back nearly four dozen villages Southwest of Mosul within the past month as they are helping government forces in battles against the ISIL terrorists.

News ID: 429547

Date: 09 May 2017 - 23:36

RNA - Speaking at a press conference in the capital Baghdad, Ahmad al-Assadi stated that the volunteer forces, also known as Hashd al-Sha’abi, had repelled militant attacks in the Northern province of Salahuddin, the Makhoul Mountains, which lie 40 kilometers North of Salahuddin’s provincial capital city of Tikrit and the Western areas of Nineveh Province, Al Forat reported.

He added that Hashd al-Sha’abi forces had reclaimed control over 44 villages in the al-Hadar district of Mosul over the past 30 days, and killed 725 ISIL militants during the operations.

Assadi further noted that there were 136 bombers and 8 high-profile commanders among the slain extremists.

The Iraqi military figure went on to say that Hashd al-Sha’abi also defused 235 explosive devices and 30 explosive belts, cleared 12 booby-trapped houses and downed five unmanned aerial vehicles.

Assadi said pro-government forces also destroyed 51 vehicles, 61 car bombs, two arms depots, a watch tower, 11 artillery rounds and five mortar shells.

Hashd al-Sha’abi forces also uncovered eleven tunnels, which ISIL militants used to travel between their command and control centers in front lines.

The report came on the same day that Iraqi military aircraft conducted an aerial attack against a ISIL position in the Mushirfa district of western Mosul, killing a senior ISIL commander.

The Iraqi military intelligence identified the slain militant as Jassem al-Basari, better known by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad. He was reportedly in charge of ISIL’s military affairs in Mushirfa and Haramat districts.

Moreover, Commander of Nineveh Liberation Operation General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah said Federal Police forces, members of the rapid response forces and soldiers from the Army’s 9th Armored Division had established control over al-Oula al-Haramat neighborhood west of Mosul, and raised the Iraqi national flag over a number of buildings in the area.

Yarallah added that Iraqi forces are now advancing towards 17 Tamuz and Eqtisadiyan neighborhoods.

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