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Salahuddin Kombat Kronicle
Iraqi forces begin operations in Salahuddin

Shirqat (IraqiNews.com) ISIS News Today: Iraqi government and paramilitary forces recaptured several villages on Thursday as the government launched a wide-scale, final operation to retake all of Islamic State’s remaining havens.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command said Thursday and late Wednesday that major offensives were launching to retake Islamic State last bastions in Salahuddin’s Shirqat and Kirkuk’s Hawija. Other offensives had launched earlier this week at the group’s holdouts in western Anbar’s borders with Syria.

Iraqi air forces hit ISIS convoy near Hawija

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) An Islamic State convoy escaping southwestern Kirkuk toward east of Salahuddin province has been targeted in aerial shelling, a local source was quoted saying.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said, “heavy shelling targeted on Thursday an IS convoy composed of several vehicles escaping Hawija, Kirkuk, toward Mutaibija in Salahuddin.”

The source, who asked to be anonymous, expected losses inflicted on the enemy.

Occasional attacks have been witnessed in Mutaibija by IS against government and paramilitary troops deployments since Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and PMUs, launched a major offensive to retake IS-held areas.

The Iraqi army said in September its forces recaptured the western coast of Shirqat, located south of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris river, after being surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and the pro-government Shi’ite militias. The eastern coast of Shirqat, is still under the IS control.

ISIS troops quit the war in Salahuddin
It's all fun and games until the airstrikes begin
Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State militants have turned in themselves to security troops, north of Salahuddin, while others set headquarters on fire before escaping to Kirkuk.

“Seven IS militants extradited themselves to security troops in eastern Shirqat. Among the militants was Mendil Thanon, from western Shirqat,” the source told Baghdad Today on Thursday.

In related news, intelligence of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said IS militants set their headquarters in western Shirqat on fire before escaping toward Hawija in south west of Kirkuk.

A statement by the PMF’s media service said, “the militants burnt their headquarters located near al-Zab river before withdrawal from western Shirqat toward Hawija as Iraqi troops advance.”

PMF announced earlier liberating five villages in northeast of Shirqat and killing several militants hiding at houses there.

Soddy ISIS emir dies in al-Siniyah region

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) The pro-government paramilitary troops have killed a Saudi-national Islamic State leader in Salahuddin province.

A statement by al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said on Thursday, “troops of the sixth brigade managed to kill abu Abdul Rahman, an IS Saudi Emir, during attempt to infiltrate toward military units in al-Siniyah region.”

Earlier on the day, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy PMFs commander, said, “military operations carried out by the troops in cooperation with security services will take place through two stages; first one at western Shirqat, north of Tikrit, while the second at Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk.

Iraqi forces drive back ISIS attack

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi army forces on Thursday repelled an attempt by Islamic State members to take over the road between Baghdad and Mosul.

A security source told Alghad Press that the army’s Counter-Terrorism Service forces countered sneaking IS members at al-Zawia crossroad. The source said the militants were attempting to take over the area to cut the Baghdad-Mosul road.

“CTS forces have managed to exterminate the sneaking group completely, and destroyed three vehicles,” said the source.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command said Thursday that major offensives were launching to retake Islamic State last bastions in Salahuddin’s Shirqat and Kirkuk’s Hawija. Other offensives had launched earlier this week at the group’s holdouts in western Anbar’s borders with Syria.

Federal Police, Rapid Response and the pro-government Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) are carrying out the attack, according to the command.

PMF media said its troops managed to take over four villages in the IS-held eastern side of Salahuddin’s Shirqat town, while Federal Police chief, Shaker Jawdat, said his troops recaptured three other villages after invading the town with tens of combat vehicles and troops.

Iraq hopes to eliminate Islamic State fighters who emerged in 2014 to proclaim a self-styled “Islamic Caliphate”. So far, operations since October 2016 have managed to recapture Mosul, the group’s former capital, and the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul.
Posted by: badanov 2017-09-22
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=497881