Iraqi troops have launched an offensive to liberate an Islamic State-held region, north of the recently-freed Qaim town in Anbar, a paramilitary official said on Wednesday.
“Offensive to free al-Rummana, north of Qaim, was launched on Wednesday with participation of security troops and tribes,” Qutri al-Obeidi, a senior leader with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) in al-Baghdadi region in Anbar, told AlSumaria News.
“Troops managed to free al-Rummana bridge, which links the center of the region to Qaim,” Obeidi said indicating troops advance to free it from IS militants. Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced on Friday liberation of Qaim in record time.
Many IS militants reportedly fled Qaim heading to al-BuKamal in Syria, after several leaders ran away and were killed in airstrikes by the Iraqi and U.S.-Coalition jets.
Operations were launched, late October, to liberate Qaim and Rawa towns. Both have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic “Caliphate”. Iraqi forces have managed, so far, to retake Mosul, the group’s former capital, the town of Tal Afar, west of Nineveh, Kirkuk’s town of Hawija and Anbar’s Annah and Qaim.
In the same context, Iraqi troops have repulsed an Islamic State attack against security checkpoint in north of Diyala, a local official said on Tuesday.
“Several IS members attempted in the evening launching an attack against joint security checkpoint of al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces] and police on the borders of the liberated al-BouEissa village, located in the vicinity of Udhaim town, from Salahuddin direction,” Mohamed Daifan al-Ebeidi, head of the town’s local council, told Alghad Press.
“Security personnel at the checkpoint managed to repel the attack and follow the militants with no casualties reported,” he added.
Ebeidi urged the troops to expedite the military operation at Mutaibija, located near Udhaim, to comb it from IS militants and preserve security at the province.
Mutaibija has complicated terrain, with numerous hills that serve as a good hideout for militants. Occasional attacks have been witnessed there by Islamic State against government and paramilitary troops deployments since Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and PMUs, launched a major offensive to retake areas occupied by IS since 2014.
An attack against the al-Safra border crossing, north of Diyala, was repulsed by troops on Friday, leaving three security personnel killed and three others wounded.
On the other hand, Peshmerga troops have denied committing violations or opening fire against either the federal forces or the pro-government paramilitary troops, the spokesperson said.
“Peshmerga only defended itself and the people,”Brig. General Kelkurd Hekmat told Baghdad Today on Tuesday. “Iraqi troops and al-Hashd al-Shaabi are the ones rallying near regions of Kurdistan.”
“The Prime Minister [Haidar al-Abadi] urged that Peshmerga be part of Iraqi troops, however, to the moment, they still joining the troops control on joint crossing borders at disputed regions,” Hekmat added.
“Why does the government allows PMFs to take part in all its operations and controlling regions but does not allow Peshmerga do the same at regions that are already governed by Kurdistan or of high kurdish majority?” he wondered.
He concluded saying that “peshmerga will not start the attack, but at the same time, will defend itself.”
In a daily press briefing, earlier on the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi warned against targeting or opening fire against federal troops at disputed regions, warning that whoever violates will not be safe.
Tension occurred between Baghdad and Erbil in the wake of the independence referendum held in September by Kurdistan Regional Government, when 92 percent voted for independence from Iraq. Baghdad rejected the vote and replied with retaking territories where sovereignty is disputed with Erbil, including oil facilities.
Walid al-Helli, who is Abadi’s advisor, said on Monday that Iraqi government will impose its control on the border crossings that are out of its control, even if by force. He added that 29 crossing are out of the federal government’s control.