Hashd Al-Sha’abi Goes on Alert along Iraq-Syria Key Road to Block ISIL Penetration

“The forces of divisions 17 and 18 of Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha’abi have been stationed along Akashat-al-Qaem international highway from al-Ratabeh Intersection to the West of al-Anbar Province, the Arabic-language al-Ma’aloumeh news website quoted commander of Hashd al-Sha’abi’s Division 17 Jasem al-Nouri as saying on Tuesday.

Al-Nouri noted that Hashd al-Sha’abi forces are in dominant control of security along the international highway, and said his forces are prepared to confront the ISIL from Syria towards Iraq’s territories, including Wadi Houran region.

He also said that Hashd al-Sha’abi has maintained security of 70 kilometers of the international road upto Akashat.

Media reports said on Saturday that the US military men stationed in occupied bases in al-Anbar province use the ISIL terrorists in disguise of ordinary people to target the Iraqi forces in desert areas of the region.

Head of Badr Organization’s Office in al-Anbar Qusai al-Anbari was quoted by al-Ma’aloumeh news website as saying that the US forces deployed in Ein al-Assad and al-Habaniyeh bases in al-Anbar deserts in Western Iraq are using a new method to attack the Iraqi security forces.

He added that they disguise the ISIL terrorists as shepherds and tribesmen to launch on against the Iraqi security forces, Hashd al-Shaabi (Iraqi popular forces) and civilians in al-Anbar desert.

Al-Anbari said that the US forces have even prepared livestock for the ISIL terrorists to disguise them as shepherds.

The head of Badr organization’s office in al-Anbar province had also last month warned of the American forces’ suspicious moves in the Western deserts of the province, saying that the US was aiding the terrorists stationed in the region.

Al-Ma’aloumeh quoted al-Anbari as saying at the time that the Americans were assisting a terrorist group called Ghosts of Desert in desert areas of al-Anbar, adding that they had been airdropping foodstuff packages for the ISIL from helicopters hovering over the region in the past few days.

He  also warned that the US army was training hundreds of ISIL terrorists in al-Anbar province after relocating them from Syria to Iraq to prepare them for a new round of insecurities in the country.