Iraq’s PMF, army launch major anti-terror operation

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and army troops have started a joint, full-scale anti-terrorist military operation in the country’s western province of Anbar.

According to a statement by the media bureau of the PMF, better known by the name Hashd al-Sha’abi, the operation, codenamed “Heroes of the Second Victory,” commenced early on Thursday.

It said that the operation was aimed at securing the western borders of Iraq and the desert areas in the southwestern parts of Anbar province.

In a separate statement, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) also said that the massive operation would cover the southern areas of the highway connecting the capital, Baghdad, to the Turaibil Border Compound, the only crossing between Iraq and Jordan.

It would also cover the areas of al-Salijiyah, al-Karma Island, Wadi Samil, and Wadi al-Qaddaf situated in western and southwestern Anbar, the statement added.

The joint command of the PMF and the army in Anbar also said in a separate statement that in the phase of the operation that had started, ground PMF forces were receiving cover from army helicopters.

According to Qassem Mosleh, a senior PMF commander, four PMF brigades, four army brigades, a group of PMF forces stationed in al-Rutbah City, a medical unit, a military engineering unit, a mine-disposal team, intelligence forces, and an armored unit would be taking part in the operation.

Mosleh added that the areas that would be covered by the operation had recently witnessed terrorist activity.