20 ISIS Bad Guys turn into a Red Mist near Syrian border
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi warplanes killed 20 Islamic State members near the borders with Syria, military media reported Monday, denying reports that the strikes targeted locations inside Syria.
The Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said an airstrike was carried out at Tal Sufouq, a region at Nineveh’s borders with Syria, based on intelligence provided by the Popular Mobilization Forces.
The strike killed 20 militants and destroyed six vehicles, the statement said, denying reports that the strikes targeted locations inside Syria.
On Sunday, semi-official al-Sabah newspaper said Iraqi warplanes pounded IS locations in the Syrian city of Mayadin, Deiz Ezzour, before the group proceeded with plans to target holy Shia sites in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, as well as the residence of the country’s top Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
Iraqi forces regained control over the city of Mosul earlier this month, ending more than eight months of battles against the militants at their former capital. Coinciding with the campaign in Mosul, paramilitary troops, backed by warplanes, managed to take full control over the borderline with Syria and Jordan.
Islamic State now holds a few towns in Nineveh near the Syrian borders, most notably Tal Afar, which is widely reported to be the next target for military operations.
12 ISIS Bad Guys die in drone strike near Tal Afar
Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) A drone guided by the U.S.-led coalition killed 12 Islamic State militants near the group’s last stronghold west of Nineveh, an air force officer said in a statement.
Maj. Abbas al-Khozami said in a press state,ent that the drone fired two rockets at an Islamic State residence in Alawliya, east of Tal Afar, the town held by militants since 2014.
Among those killed was Islamic State’s commando chief, Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Qader al-Jeheishi, Khozami said.
He said the air force continues to fly drones above the town to collect intelligence about the group’s locations and movements, noting that more air raids will be carried out in the area over the few next days.
The Iraqi government has recently set Tal Afar as the next target of oeprations against the Islamic State. So far, the town has been isolated from the Syrian borders and from Mosul by the pro-government Popular Mobilization.
Earlier on Monday, the media service of the Popular Mobilization said troops, backed by the Iraqi jets repelled an IS attack at the region between the borders and al-Hamdaniyah district, northeast of Nineveh province.
Ten militants were killed, while six vehicles of the group were burnt, the statement added.
Another statement by the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said an airstrike was carried out at Tal Sufouq, a region at Nineveh’s borders with Syria, killed 20 militants.