SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi forces alongside Hashid al-Shaabi launched the second phase of an operation against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in western Anbar on Wednesday, a Hashid al-Shaabi commander said.
Commander of Hashid al-Shaabi operations in Anbar Qassem Muslih said Iraqi army, Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and tribal fighters were participating in the operation.
“The operation will continue until ISIS sleeper cells are defeated in the areas in western Anbar,” the PMF commander added.
On Tuesday, the Joint Operations Command said the Iraqi forces backed by the country’s warplanes and U.S.-led Coalition fighter jets had launched an operation to pursue ISIS remnants in Anbar province.
The Iraqi military added that the operation aimed at establishing security and stability in Anbar province.
Iraqi forces have stepped up efforts to detain ISIS militants in the provinces of Kirkuk, Saladin, Anbar and Baghdad. The Iraqi security forces launched two separate operations against ISIS remnants in Saladin and Kirkuk last week.
The federal government announced victory over Islamic State by the end of 2017 after Iraqi and Kurdish forces backed by U.S.-led Coalition regained control of areas once captured by the militant group.
Despite its defeat, ISIS still poses a threat to the security and stability of the country as there are still sleeper cells in Iraq.
