Iraqi Forces Preparing for New Phase of Anti-ISIL Operations at Border with Syria

Hashd al-Shaabi announced in a statement on Tuesday that its engineering units have started to dig bunkers and trenches and fortify them across the border with Syria in order to be ready to launch the next phase of the operations against ISIL terrorists.

“The forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) have started digging bunkers from the village of Um Jaris in the Western direction of the town of Sinjar towards the Southern villages along the border (with Syria),” the statement added.

Earlier reports said that Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Qassem Soleimani was pictured with Hashd Al-Shaabi in Northwestern Iraq on Monday.

The AMN reported that the prominent Iranian general was advising the high command of the Popular Mobilization Units during their important operation along the Syrian border-crossing.

With the capture of ISIL’s last crossing in Nineveh province, the Popular Mobilization Units will now turn their attention South towards the Takfiri terrorist group’s final stronghold on the Syrian border.

On Monday, Secretary General of Hashd al-Shaabi Hadi al-Ameri announced that his forces deployed at the country’s borders with Syria, adding that the popular forces would soon launch an anti-ISIL cleansing operation along the border.

Al-Ameri said that Hashd al-Shaabi fighters opened their way to Iraq’s border with Syria, adding that the forces deployed in the border village of Um Jaris.

“We are now in this region (Um Jaris) that is a border-crossing with Syria,” al-Ameri said, adding, “Cleansing operation at Iraq’s border with Syria from Um Jaris up to the town of al-Qa’em will be kicked off tomorrow.”