The Popular Mobilization Units are going to start the second phase of its military operation to the west of Mosul city.
Photo: alalam.ir
The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Al-Hashd Al-Sha’abi, are ready to launch a fresh round of military operations in order to recapture all regions, located to the west of Mosul city in Nineveh province, the Fars news agency reported, citing PMU spokesman Ahmad al-Assadi.
“As the ground have been prepared for regaining control of Tal Afar, we [the PMU] are waiting for Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to determine which military units will take part in the operations in western Mosul,” Al-Assadi told the news agency on Saturday.
He also noted that the first phase of the PMU operations in the area, located to the west of Mosul, resulted in regaining control over 113 square kilometers of territories and tens of villages, as well as in cutting of supply routes of terrorists.
“The Hashd al-Shaabi with all its units and groups has taken all the measures for starting the second phase of the sexpartite military operation to liberate the territories to the west of Mosul, which includes the strategic Tal Afarf region,” al-Assadi added.
He also noted that the PMU provides support to other forces, participating in the operation for the liberation of Mosul city, and stressed that they will continue to do this.
“The Iraqi volunteer forces will continue to support the Iraqi Federal Police and counterterrorism units in a bid to pave the way for seizing back the remaining regions in western Mosul,” the PMU spokesman said.
The first phase of the PMU operation, aimed on liberation of Mosul city, was ended on February 26. It took place on western and eastern flanks of Tal Afar and resulted in recapture of 12 villages, killing 207 terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) group and liberation of 1,200 Iraqi civilians.
