ISIL Terrorists Driven from Baghdadi, Says Iraq Defense Ministry

Iraq’s Defense Ministry said the military, with the support of volunteer forces and pro-government tribes, has managed to fully purge the Western town of Baghdadi of the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

According to Iraqi media reports, the defense ministry in a statement added that the forces are now moving toward the city of Hit, Northwest of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar Province, expressing hope that the city would be liberated soon.

Following Baghdadi’s liberation, its residents celebrated the victory over ISIL.

The Takfiri group captured most of Baghdadi, which is located about 85 kilometers (50 miles) Northwest of Ramadi, on February 12 after besieging it for months. It is home to an airbase that houses hundreds of US Marines.

Anbar Province, which borders Syria, is regarded as a major stronghold of ISIL.

The Takfiri militants have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, including public decapitations, against Iraqi communities.

Iraqi soldiers, police units, Kurdish forces, volunteers and tribesmen are engaged in joint operations to drive the terrorists out of the areas they have under control.

Iranian, Iraqi Provinces to Boost All-Out Cooperation

On the other hand, officials of Iran’s Ilam and Iraq’s Vaset provinces underlined that cultural commonalities and territorial proximity between the two provinces have paved very good ground for expansion of bilateral ties in various trade, cultural, and socials arenas.

In a meeting between Governor-General of Vaset Province Malik Khalaf Wadi and Deputy Governor-General of Ilam Province Hossein Kalantari on Saturday, both sided called for consolidation of mutual cooperation.

Upon arrival, Khalaf Wadi said there are plenty of commonalties between people of these two neighboring provinces, adding his province is willing to develop trade ties with the Iranian province.

Deputy Governor General in political and security affairs Hossein Kalantari welcomed the Iraqi official and expressed hope that the two sides would cooperate in light of their existing capacities in the sectors of engineering order of building, technology and agriculture as well as other fields of investment.

He added that a special working group has been created in the province to discuss and exchange views on issues such as pilgrims shuttle, trade and cultural ties with Iraq.

This is the first visit of Vaset new governor general to Ilam province.

Ilam province has common borders with three Iraqi provinces.

FNA

R.S