Iraqi Volunteer Forces Advancing against ISIL towards Syrian Border

Rasa - The Iraqi pro-government forces reportedly made new gains against the ISIL militants, as they took control over several villages in Iraqs border region, moving towards Syria.

News ID: 429725

Date: 18 May 2017 - 23:20

RNA - While the Iraqi Ground Forces are currently securing the last pockets of the ISIL militants in the latters former bastion Mosul in North Iraq, the forces of Al-Nujaba already aim to push ISIL out of the Northwestern parts of the country, Al Masdar reported.

Reports claim, that in their latest advances towards Al-Qaywaran the pro-gouvernment forces were able to liberate 4 villages. With those under their control, the first phase of this operation, whith the ultimate goal of freeing Al-Qaywaran, is completed.

With Al-Qaywaran still some 17 km away, the next step in their efforts, will be for the militia to seize control of the Thura airbase and Al-Ba'aj from the ISIL militants. If they succeed, they will have laid the ground to finally claim back the important town of Al-Qaywaran from the terrorist group.

In addition the Iraqi Airforce took it’s bite from ISIL forces. The Iraqi AirForce Command confirmed that around 50 fighters of the ISIL have been killed in a row of airstrikes on six different local headquartes of the ISIL in Iraq. The headquarters were located in the regions of Tal Afar, Al Ba'aj and Qaywaran.

With the last days of the ISIL in Mosul counted, Iraq also seeks to secure it’s border with Syria. This would further impede formers already crippled economy, which heavily relies on smuggling through the various porous borders of the region.

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