Military operation launched to pursue IS militants between Diyala, Baghdad
Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – A wide-scale military operation was launched to pursuit Islamic State remnants in the areas between Diyala and Baghdad, a military commander said.
“Joint troops, backed by Iraqi warplanes, have carried out a military operation targeting IS remnants stationed in the areas between Diyala and Baghdad governorates,” Commander of the Tigris Operations Lieutenant General Mezher al-Azzawi told Alghad Press on Tuesday.
“The troops started their mission from Buhriz and Kanaan districts south of Diyala and will continue till the outskirts of Baghdad,” Azzawi said, adding that the operation comes as part of his command’s efforts to reinforce security in these areas.
“The troops will comb all recently-liberated areas between Diyala and Baghdad in search for any IS remnant,” he pointed out.
A similar security campaign was launched on Monday, under the supervision of the Maysan operations command, to apprehend outlaws and drug dealers in the governorate.
The clampdown, which included joint troops from outside the governorate, is also meant to settle tribal disputes, take weapons from citizens and arrest rioters in the governorate.
Islamic State militants killed by paramilitary troops in Hamreen mountains
Diyala (IraqiNews.com) The pro-government paramilitary troops have announced killing Islamic State militants on Tuesday.
“Troops of the 88th of al-Hashd al-Shaabi {Popular Mobilization Forces) destroyed on Tuesday two vehicles loaded with weapons for IS militant in Hamreen mountains,” the media service of the forces said in a statement.
“Troops managed to kill the militants who were on board the vehicles,” the statement added without clarifying the number of militants killed.
Islamic State collected US$500,000 through abduction in Diyala: Official
Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State has obtained around US$500,000 through abduction operations in Diyala in 2017, a paramilitary official was quoted saying on Tuesday.
Speaking to AlSumaria News, Jabbar al-Maamouri, leader with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said “IS militants launched a series of attacks at some regions in Diyala in 2017 through its sleeper cells in Hamreen, Qurret Tabbah and Neft Khana. The group obtained amounts of money that reach up to around US$500,000, in accordance to information we have.”
“The abduction has turned to an internal source of funding for the group, which collected the money to reinforce its sleeper cells. This indicates the activity in some regions including Hamreen, which are encountered by security troops,” Maamouri added.
The abduction processes, according to Maamouri, usually occur without the relatives of the kidnapped file reports against the kidnappers. “They pay huge amounts of money, which is wrong as this would support terrorism and encourages more abduction.”