Iraqi forces launched military operation to liberate Hawija

Islamic State has set oil wells in southwest of Kirkuk on fire to hinder advance of security troops, hours after the launch of offensives to liberate the group’s holdout in the province. A statement by the media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said “the militant group set two oil wells in Allas oilfield, south of Hawija to hinder advance of troops.”

Another statement by PMFs, earlier today, said the group urged its militants to evacuate villages in north of Hawija toward Abbassi, after injury of its military official in Abbassi, located northwest of Hawija. Early on Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command announced beginning of the second phase of Hawija offensive.

On Sunday, the Joint Operations Command announced completing the first phase of operations to recapture Hawija, which launched on September 21. According to Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell, 557 IS militants were killed, while more than 100 villages and regions were liberated during the first phase.

Brig. Gen. Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said previously that the number of Islamic State members in Hawija falls between 800 and 1500. Hawija and other neighboring regions, west of Kirkuk, have been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria.

In the same context, Forty five Islamic State militants were killed in airstrikes by the anti-IS international coalition jets, south of Hit, Anbar, a military official said. “The U.S.-led Coalition jets shelled a convoy of IS vehicles in the desert in south of Kubaisa, south of Hit,” Maj. Gen. Noaman Abd al-Zawba’i, commander of the army’s seventh division, told AlSumaria News on Friday.

The shelling left forty five militants killed and six vehicles destroyed,” Zawba’i said. “The militant group was planning to target safe places in Anbar before foiling its attempt.” Kubaisa has been controlled by security forces and tribes since 2016, however, troops thwart attack by the group every now and then.

Iraqi army announced the total recapture of the town, hours after recapturing neighboring Rayhana area, earlier this month. Troops also liberated Akashat region, between Rutba town, on borders with Jordan, and Qaim, on borders with Syria.

Anbar’s western towns of Qaim and Rawa have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic “Caliphate”. Iraqi troops were able to return life back to normal in the biggest cities of Anbar including Fallujah, Ramadi and others after recapturing them in 2015 and 2016.

In Diyala, Four Islamic State militants have been killed in airstrikes by Iraqi jets, northeast of Diyala, a commander was quoted saying on Friday. “Iraqi fighter jets targeted an IS vehicle near Hamreen lake, northeast of Baquba, killing four militants on board and destroying the vehicle completely,” Maj. Gen. Mazhar al-Azzawi, commander of Dijla Operations, told AlSumaria News.

“Efforts by the command are ongoing to eradicate IS sleeper cells in the town,” Azzawi added. Iraqi jets destroyed several IS vehicles and rest houses in Hamreen over the past few weeks. In related news, Azzawi said all roads in the province, indicating stable security situations.

“All roads in Diyala, including Kirkuk-Baghdad road, are open. No roads are blocked,” he said.
Attacks launched by Islamic State militants against security troops, the pro-government forces and civilians surged over the past few weeks in northeast of Diyala, which urge the Iraqi forces to prevent the militants infiltration between Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces, especially the regions stretching along Hamreen mountains and Al-Azeem town.

IS holds pivotal regions that link between each of Diyala, Salahuddin and Kirkuk, posing threats to the liberated regions. The government and military commanders are expected to wage operations at other IS havens across the country, including Diyala, in order to mark an end to the group’s self-styled “caliphate” declared by the group in 2014.