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About 130 ISIL Takfiris slain in Iraqi army mop-up operations

A member of Iraqi security forces stands on a Hummer in Baiji as the army fights against ISIL Takfiri militants to retake the strategic northern Iraqi city on July 2, 2015. ©AFP

Iraqi government forces, backed by Popular Mobilization units, have engaged ISIL Takfiri militants during a series of clean-up operations across the crisis-stricken Arab country, killing dozens of the extremists in the process.

According to a statement released by the Iraqi Defense Ministry on Thursday, a total of 21 ISIL militants were killed after Iraqi troopers launched a number of rockets against terrorist hideouts in the city of Fallujah, located roughly 69 kilometers (43 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad.

A Saudi citizen, identified by the nom de guerre, Abu Abdullah al-Saudi, was among the slain terrorists.

The commander of the 3rd Battalion of the Iraqi Army’s 30th Brigade, Colonel Mahmoud Morzi al-Jumaili, also told Arabic-language al-Forat news agency that volunteer fighters had killed 25 ISIL terrorists and injured 100 others, among them foreigners, as they repelled the Takfiris’ assaults on  the al-Lahib, aL-Baijat, and al-Hitawin regions of al-Karmah town, located 48 kilometers (30 miles) west of Baghdad.

Iraqi fighters from the Popular Mobilization units wave their guns in Baiji as they fight alongside Iraqi forces against ISIL Takfiri militants, July 2, 2015. © AFP

The Iraqi commander added that a fierce exchange of gunfire between Popular Mobilization forces and ISIL militants broke out in the early hours of Thursday, and continued up until 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).

Separately, Commander of Samarra Operations Major General Emad al-Zahiri said 21 ISIL extremists were killed as Iraqi warplanes struck a road west of Jazirat Samarra district in the northern province of Salahuddin.

Moreover, at least five ISIL members were killed when Iraqi fighter jets launched precision strikes against terrorist hideouts in the town of al-Qa'im, which lies near the Syrian border and is located nearly 400 km (248 miles) northwest of Baghdad.

Iraqi security personnel together with Popular Mobilization units also conducted raids in al-Zouba' village and Amiriyah Fallujah city in the western province of Anbar, killing 15 ISIL terrorists.

File photo shows an Iraqi fighter from the Popular Mobilization units posing for a picture with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) in Baiji as they fight alongside Iraqi forces against ISIL Takfiri militants. © AFP

Meanwhile, Iraqi military aircraft pounded ISIL positions in the al-Line district of Salahuddin Province, killing 17 ISIL militants and destroying a pickup truck equipped with a 37-mm machine gun.

In a separate development, 25 ISIL militants were killed and 20 others injured when Iraqi security forces thwarted an ISIL offensive on a town located on the outskirts of Karmah.

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by violence ever since ISIL militants began their offensive in the country in June 2014. Army soldiers and volunteer fighters have joined forces and are seeking to take back militant-held regions.

MP/MHB/SS


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