SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi forces arrested two Islamic State (ISIS) suspects and destroyed three positions used by the militant group during the first day of an anti-ISIS operation in western Iraq, according to the Iraqi military.
On Monday, units from operations command of Saladin and Nineveh as well as Hashid al-Shaabi backed by Iraqi air force launched Operation “Lions of al-Jazeera” in the deserts in the west.
The Iraqi forces destroyed two camps and a tunnel belonging to ISIS and detonated four explosive devices, defused a booby-trapped house, and seized two motorcycles, Iraqi Security Media Cell said in a statement.
“The operation is still ongoing,” the Iraqi military said.
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.
