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On Saturday, the Iraqi Army and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) liberated more than 40 villages in the western and southern and eastern parts of Hawija area south of Kirkuk city from ISIS, according to the PMU media wing.
Government forces captured Tal Saha’ar, Tal Mohamad, Shate al-Jadr, al-Noor, Tal al-Noor, Um al-Izam, Tal al-Ward, al-Aghr, Tal al-Aghr, al-Jidar, Sarwa, Arhmah, Jukis, Dusarah al-Suflah, Subih Fuqani, al-Zrariah, al-Sharia’a, al-Helwah, Karud, Jar Brdan, Helewah al-Suflah, Helewah al-Awliah, Helewah al-Wastah, Shumet, Sardk, al-Khazer al-Awliah, Aterah al-Inadiah, Arab Silman Nijm, al-Shamwi, Hamad Mohamad Ali, al-Namil, al-Sadr, Haterah, al-Khazer, al-Sabaghiah, Rajm al-Wadi, al-Riwaiah, Rangi, al-Shak, al-Qubah, Suflah, al-Numisah, al-Awn, al-Sabel and al-Anadiah.
The army and the PMU also captured the strategic Zerga bridge between Tuz Khurmatu town and Tikrit city in the eastern part of Hawija area. Moreover, government forces captured the road between Zerga bridge and Hadadiah town.
Footage of #Iraq‘s armed forces during ops in eastern Shirqat, west of Hawijah, which have killed close to 200 Da’ish terrorists so far ?? pic.twitter.com/vPFB1KSKAC
— Haidar Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) 22 September 2017
During its advance the army and the PMU killed and injured dozens of ISIS fighters and destroyed 5 VBIEDs and several mortar units of ISIS, according to the PMU media wing.
Government forces are liberating between 300 and 500 square kilometers daily. With this advance speed, the military operation in Hawija area could be over within a week.
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
It’s amazing how much ISIS has collapsed militarily these past months.
On a side note, does this operation also places the Iraqi in a more advantageous military position towards Kirkuk in case the Kurdish referendum leads to war?
Yes, Iraq will be directly in the outskirts of the city
Yes, and it will be needed to liberate Kirkuk (which has a minority of Kurds), from the separatists.
Why is that needed? there are no troubles there now. I think it would be a huge mistake to destroy Kirkuk as well. What happened with Mosul is allready a disgrace.
There will be trouble if Kurdistan declares full independence.
I hope not, Iraq has no future in its present form
take kirkuk and kill matt
To kill me will change nothing, hahahah!!
remain more oxygen for us :)
Kurds trying to steal land! Thats why! This is not a civil war! This is a war against terrorism! So why does the Kurds want independence? They neighbour Iran and Iranian Kurdish regions also! All nations in this region are against it! U can’t just steal land the same way isis did and create a Kurdish state just like u can’t create an islamic state without war! This is a war! Kurds will be destroyed! They cannot win this war even with the help of USA, Israel and KSA! They cannot!! If u think they can, explain how they can! And then I will explain how ur explanation is totally wrong! Kurds will need ww3 to begin if they want this land! Think white and get serious!
Not agreed…
Yes, that’s part of the strategy. Pershmerga forces were sent to compete for this area as well but in the end got stranded in Kirkuk. They made a wise decision though because so close to their referendum, the last thing they need is active conflict. However, Iraq must finish this operation as quick as possible as after the referendum, the Kurds can enter into the race.
ISIS changed their tactics. The same as the Taliban did, they decided to “dissapear”. But after some time they will pop up again….
After the Mosul operation where massive amount of soldier has been participated in the battle, everything else just a playground for this massive army.