The Iraqi ministry reported that the pro-government forces in large-scale mop-up operation in Masibijeh region between the province of Salahuddin and Diyala managed to clean 25 villages from the remaining pockets of ISIL terrorists.
The ministry further said that the mop-up operation was headed by the ground force, adding the country’s volunteer forces of Hashd al-Shaabi participated in the operation.
The Iraqi forces destroyed 15 landmines, 2 trenches, 3 tunnels, 1 passageway, 2 bomb-laden motorbikes and a hideout of the ISIL in their operation.
Relevant reports said on Saturday that the popular forces of Hashd al-Shaabi engaged in fierce clashes with ISIL that utilized at least seven armored vehicles carrying a number of terrorists, including suicide attackers, to target the government forces’ positions at border with Syria.
The Hashd al-Shaabi fighters killed a number of terrorists and destroyed one of the armored vehicles and managed to fend off their attack.
Also, the artillery units of Hashd al-Shaabi shelled one of the positions of ISIL in Syria’s territories opposite to Tad Safouk at Iraq-Syria border and destroyed it.