Iraqi govt. forces, allies poised to launch Hawija operation
An Iraqi military official says government forces, backed by allied fighters from Popular Mobilization Units, are preparing to launch a major military operation aimed at liberating the town of Hawija in the oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk from Daesh Takfiri terrorists anytime soon.
The unnamed official told Arabic-language al-Araby al-Jadeed news website on Friday that Iraq’s Joint Operations Command (JOC) has formed a new force, dubbed Operation "We Are Coming, Hawija" to retake the town, located 45 kilometers west of the provincial capital city of Kirkuk.
He added that Iraqi army units, members of the Federal Police Force and Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), the Interior Ministry's elite rapid response forces as well as volunteer fighters, commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha’abi, will participate in the battle.
The officer described the offensive to retake Hawija as difficult, pointing to the intense concentration of Daesh leaders and elements in the town plus the high number of civilians, whom the terrorists have held as human shields.
The remarks came as Iraqi military aircraft dropped thousands of leaflets across Hawija last night and early in the morning, announcing the imminent launch of the military operation to recapture the town.
Hawija is one of four Iraqi towns still controlled by Daesh militants. The other three towns of al-Qa'im, located nearly 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad near the Syrian border, Anah and Rawa are in the western province of Anbar.
Daesh terrorists took control of Hawija after capturing Mosul and several other Iraqi cities in mid-2014.
The Takfiris have frequently carried out mass executions in Hawija. On August 6, 2016, they were said to have executed at least 100 people in one single incident.
Iraqi resistance forces strike vital Israeli positions with drones
Iraqi resistance launches drone strikes on vital Israeli targets in Haifa, Golan
Saudi MBC Group fires news director after insult to resistance leaders
Iran among top nuclear technology countries: AEOI chief
Democrats 'risk losing' election for backing Israeli war on Gaza, Lebanon: US journalist
Protesters remove busts of Israel's first president from Manchester Univ.
VIDEO | Hezbollah drones
US involvement in Israel’s 'regional war' unconstitutional, lawmakers tell Biden
107 years of Balfour Declaration that paved way for extermination of Palestinians
Hezbollah strikes Israeli military base near Tel Aviv
Palestinian media rights group condemns killing of two journalists by Israel
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
