Iraq: Army, Volunteer Forces Start Fresh Operations in Anbar Province

The Iraqi army backed by the volunteer forces started a new offensive to seize back two strategic towns near al-Karama region in al-Anbar province in Western Iraq.

“The army’s 1st Brigade, backed by Baghdad operations command center and volunteer forces, started new operations in Northern al-Karama (53 kilometers to the East of al-Ramadi) to regain control of al-Maqala and al-Hamra towns,” al-Sumeria news quoted an Iraqi security source as saying, on the condition of anonymity, on Sunday.

The source noted that the Iraqi forces advanced in al-Maqala and al-Hamra towns and heavy clashes broke out between the government forces and the ISIL terrorists.

Late in April, the Iraqi army, backed by popular forces, purged a strategic district in the city of al-Karama in Western Anbar province of ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

The army units regained control of al-Roza district in Central al-Karama. Al-Roza was considered an important stronghold of the terrorists in al-Karama.

Iraq’s popular forces besieged ISIL terrorists in a bazaar in Central al-Karama from four sides.

Simultaneous with the army’s offensive against the ISIL strongholds in al-Karama, a large number of popular forces from the region’s Sunni tribes joined the army men to eradicate the ISIL from the region.

The ISIL Takfiri terrorists currently control shrinking swathes of Syria and Iraq. They have threatened all communities, including Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Ezadi Kurds and others, as they continue their atrocities in Iraq.

Senior Iraqi officials have blamed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some Persian Gulf Arab states for the growing terrorism in their country.

The ISIL has links with Saudi intelligence and is believed to be indirectly supported by the Israeli regime.