Iraqi Forces Recapture Two Areas in Anbar from Daesh Terrorists

Iraqi counter-terrorism forces have fully liberated two districts in the conflict-ridden western province of Anbar, purging the areas of members of the Daesh Takfiri militant group.

The Iraqi military media office said in a statement on Saturday that the forces had managed to establish complete control over al-Safiriya and Albu Tayban regions on Saturday, and raised Iraqi flags over a number of buildings, Arabic-language al-Sumaria satellite television network reported.

Iraqi counter-terrorism forces also distributed foodstuff as well as medical supplies among thousands of affected families, and moved them to safer places.

The government troopers also detonated three vehicles rigged with explosives.

Meanwhile, Anwar al-Asi, a commander of the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, said his forces have repelled Daesh assaults against Ajil and Alas oilfields, located northeast of Salahuddin provincial capital city of Tikrit. The Iraqi forces killed 25 of the extremists and wounded 20 others in the process.

A total of twenty members of the Iraqi army, security and Popular Mobilization Units also lost their lives during the heavy clashes.

Separately, Commander of the third Battalion of the 30th Brigade of the Iraqi Army, Major General Zana Khalil, was fatally shot by a Daesh sniper south of Fallujah, located roughly 69 kilometers (43 miles) west of Baghdad.

Brigadier General Sarhad Qadir, Kirkuk’s provincial police chief, also said Kurdish Peshmerga forces thwarted a Daesh attack against their base in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, and killed five bombers clad in explosive-laden jackets.

Qadir added that a Peshmerga fighter was also killed and four others were injured during the fierce skirmishes.

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by violence ever since DaeshTakfiri terrorists began their march through the Iraqi territory in June 2014.

Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.

Iraq to punish Daesh For chemical raid

On the other hand, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Saturday the Takfiri Daesh terrorists will be punished for a recent chemical attack in northern Iraq that claimed the life of a young girl.

The suspected mustard gas attack targeted the town of Taza, Kirkuk Province, on March 9 from the nearby village of Bashir, which is under the control of Daesh.

The attack left dozens of people injured and hospitalized, including three-year-old Fatima Samir, who died of respiratory complications and kidney failure in hospital on Friday.

Prime Minister Abadi said in a Saturday statement that the attack on Taza “will not go unpunished.”

Hundreds of mourners held a funeral on Friday for Fatima while some of them carried placards demanding protection.

According to Burhan Abdallah, the head of Kirkuk health directorate, four people were in serious condition after the gas attack and have been taken to the capital, Baghdad.

Samples have been collected from the site of the attack and are being examined by experts to determine the chemical agent used in the deadly assault. Local officials believe it is mustard agent.

The Iraqi air force hit Bashir with a strike overnight. Abadi promised a ground operation to recapture the town from Daesh.

The Takfiri militants have so far launched similar chemical attacks in both Syria and Iraq, where they have been wreaking havoc over the past months. Although the attacks have not caused many casualties, it is believed that they have detrimental psychological effects.

Earlier in March, Iraqi intelligence officials said head of Daesh’s unit responsible for developing chemical weapons was arrested in a February raid in the northern part of the country.

Daesh, which holds parts of Iraq, has reportedly been trying to produce chemical weapons and is thought to have formed a special unit for chemical weapons research. Iraqi scientists from the Saddam-era weapons program as well as foreign experts are to reportedly be working for the terror group.

However, experts say the terror group cannot carry out a huge chemical weapons attack as such an offensive needs proper equipment, materials and a supply-chain to develop enough of the chemical agent.

 

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