TEHRAN (Iran News) – At least six members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi forces, were killed in an attack carried out by ISIS terror group in the Arab country’s Salahuddin province.
The attack on PMU forces in the province just north of the capital Baghdad was one of the largest ISIS attacks since the terrorist group was defeated in December 2017.
The final casualty count on both sides remains unknown, but there were unconfirmed reports showing a higher number of fatalities.
Iraq forces and PMU are now taking control of the situation, pushing back the Takfiri militants.
The government has also sent reinforcement to supplement efforts and prepare for possible retaliatory attacks.
Daesh has intensified its attacks in Iraq amid Baghdad’s call on the US to pull out its forces from the Arab country.
In a vote on January 5, the Iraqi parliament called for an end to the presence of all foreign troops, including Americans.
The vote came two days after the US military – acting on US President Donald Trump’s order – launched a fatal drone strike on senior Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani upon his arrival in the Iraqi capital at the invitation of the Baghdad government.
The attack also claimed the lives of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of the PMU, and eight other Iranian and Iraqi people.
Washington has threatened sanctions should US troops be expelled instead of heeding the Iraqi parliament’s call to end the occupation of the country.
- source : Tasnim, Irannews
