Iraq forces destroy Daesh hideouts

Security forces in Iraq have inflicted heavy losses on the Daesh terrorist group in the country’s west, while gearing up to free more areas from the group’s presence.

On Saturday, the forces destroyed eight strongholds belonging to the group southwest of the city of Fallujah in Anbar Province, said Ismail al-Mahlavi, the commander of the Iraqi Army’s operations in the sprawling western province.

All the terrorists who had been holed up in the hideouts were killed in the operation, he added.

Further north, the army freed 49 families who had been caught in a Daesh siege south of the city of Mosul in Nineveh Province. Previously, the military had rescued 200 people from the terrorist group.

Daesh has been rampaging throughout Iraq since June 2014.

Most recently, Iraqi forces recaptured the city of Hit in western Anbar from the terrorists. In December 2015, the military scored its biggest victory against Daesh in Anbar by retaking the provincial capital of Ramadi, seized by Takfiri militants last spring.

Preparations are underway for the recapture of Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city.

Iraq’s al-Sumaria News reported that the troops are readying to liberate Doulab and Rakhikhah in the province, attacking the areas from three directions.