SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi forces launched an operation against Islamic State (ISIS) militants near Makhmour mountains on Saturday, following an attack by the militants on a unit of Iraq’s military, Iraqi media reported.
A security source in Nineveh told Shafaq News that the operation was carried out on the outskirts of Makhmour mountains, southeast of Mosul, to pursue the militants attacked the Iraqi military in the area.
ISIS militants attacked a unit of the Iraqi military at dawn on Saturday, according to Shafaq News. Casualties remained unclear.
An ISIS militant was arrested around the silo of Makhmour during the operation, the security source told Shafaq.
“The forces continued to search the area to pursue the rest of the militants and the military units are still deployed in the areas around the silo,” the source added.
The Islamic State remnants have increased attacks against civilians and Iraqi forces in the disputed territories, claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad.
In 2017 Baghdad announced victory over the militant group, and attacks in Iraqi cities have since become much rarer, although troops continue to fight ISIS sleeper cells in mountainous and desert areas.
The militants still mount deadly operations, mostly at night and in remote areas.
