SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi forces alongside Hashid al-Shaabi launched an operation against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in west of Mosul, authorities said on Thursday.
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said its forces and the Iraqi military launched “martyrs’ revenge operation” to track ISIS sleeper cells in Badush and Atshana mountains.
“The operation aims to pursue ISIS remnants and to establish security and stability in western Mosul,” the PMF said in a statement.
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.
