Iraqi forces kill 39 ISIL terrorists in Salahuddin

Iraqi government forces backed by allied Popular Mobilization units have killed nearly 40 ISIL Takfiri terrorists during separate mop-up operations in Iraq’s troubled northern province of Salahuddin.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq (The League of the Righteous) volunteer fighters fought off an ISIL offensive against Tel Abu Jarad area, which lies west of the oil-rich northern city of Baiji, on Monday, and killed 19 extremists in the process, Arabic-language al-Sumaria satellite television network reported.

The pro-government forces also seized two sports utility vehicles belonging to the terrorists as well as a large amount of medium-caliber ammunition following the clashes.

The commander of the Tigris Operations, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir al-Zaidi, also said on Monday that Iraqi troopers have thwarted ISIL attacks on Alas and Ajeel oil fields, located northeast of the provincial capital of Tikrit, and killed 20 Takfiris during the fierce exchanges of fire.

Iraqi forces also destroyed three armored vehicles rigged with explosives, and two cars loaded with various kinds of munitions after the skirmishes.

On Saturday, over two dozen ISIL terrorists were killed in separate military operations by Iraqi forces and tribesmen across Anbar province.

Malullah al-Obeidi, a senior local official, said an armed unit of the Albu Mahal tribe conducted a “tactical operation” against ISIL positions in the village of al-Modaham near the Ayn al-Asad air base, and killed 16 ISIL terrorists.

Iraqi forces, backed by armed tribesmen, also managed to cut ISIL supply route connecting the Iraqi town of al-Qa’im to the city of Kabisa, killing 10 ISIL militants and burning their vehicles.

Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since ISIL Takfiri militants march through Iraqi territory in June 2014, and took control of swathes of land. Iraqi army soldiers have joined forces with volunteer fighters and are seeking to win back militant-held regions.