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On January 31, the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) announced that they have repelled an ISIS attack in the region of Jurf al-Sakhar in the province of Babil. According to the statement, the attack was repelled by the Al-Jazirah Operation Headquarters Command.
The incident took place as pro-Iranian sources blame the US for assisting ISIS in its operations against the PMU.
Sabah al-Akili told al-Maloumeh news website on January 31 that the US military airlifts ISIS units to areas behind PMU positions in Jurf al-Sakhar region.
“The strategic military goal of the US forces is to cause division in Jurf al-Sakhar in order to create a threat to nearby provinces and to invent a pretext for American forces to stay in Iraq,” he said.
Al-Akili claimed that the move is designed to provide a justification for the Iraqi government to ask the US troops to remain in the Arab country.
“Foreign and [Iraqi] political parties, backed by the US, are doing their utmost to drive the Hashd al-Sha’abi (PMU) forces out of Jurf al-Sakhar, which connects the provinces of Babil, al-Anbar and Baghdad via the holy [city of] Karbala,” he added.
Meanwhile, another convoy of the US-led coalition was attacked by local resistance groups. The logistics support convoy was targeted in the central Iraqi province of Babil. Qasim Al-Jabbarin group claimed responsibility for the attack. An explosion of improvised explosive device allegedly led to no casualties.
Meanwhile on other parts of the frontline:
- On January 31, a logistical convoy of the US military was targeted by an IED attack in the Babil area;
- On January 30, a logistical convoy of the US military was targeted by an IED attack in the Diwaniyah area;
- On January 31, ISIS claimed responsibility for an ambush of Iraqi Federal Police forces in Kirkuk;
- On January 31, the PMU’s 47 and 45 Brigades repelled an ISIS attack towards the Jurf al-Nasr area.
