An intense campaign by land and air, enhanced with the addition of Belgian aircraft, led today to further setbacks of Islamic extremists in Iraq, where they have lost in the recent hours more than 40 territories, some considered strategic.
According to a spokesperson for the Kurdish Peshmerga air forces, thanks to the counterattack of its members along with Shiite volunteers from the Popular Mobilization they could expel militia of the Islamic State (IS) from four villages in the Tuz district in southern Kirkuk.
In those operations, tightened since last Thursday, the Iraqi army’s artillery and air force participated, being a key element to force the withdrawal of “Takfirists” (Sunni Islamic terrorists), leaving behind weapons, useless vehicles and dead bodies of insurgents.
The governmental counteroffensive, tightened by a greater coordination with moderate Sunni militias, Shiite volunteers, the Peshmerga and the coalition led by the United States, was marked by the arrival in Baghdad of John Allen, head of the international coalition.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi defense ministry said that the fifth motorized infantry division of the Army, supported by the Popular Mobilization and the Air Force, killed 50 Jihadists in Diyala and liberated 30 villages, held for several months by IS.
Security sources said that drones and fighters of the foreign coalition continue today the overflights and sporadic operations on the town of Hit, in the western province of Al-Anbar, which was released yesterday from the domination of Sunni extremists.
Official data reported that dozens of terrorists were killed and injured for the bombings and fierce battles staged by Sahwa (Awakening) Sunni forces and Albu Nimr tribe, in the district of Alommal. (PL)