Iraqi security troops besiege ISIS militants hiding in tunnel located west of Anbar

Several Islamic State militants hiding inside a tunnel are being besieged by security troops , west of Anbar, a security source said on Monday.

“Several IS members were found hiding inside a tunnel in al-Badiya island, near Hit city,” the source told AlSumaria News. “Those militants previously killed a soldier as he knew about their hideout.”

Earlier on the day, seven IS members were reportedly killed as joint troops of army’s seventh division and tribes carried out an operation in the desert, north of Baghdadi town, west of Anbar.

Troops resume military operations to purge the Anbar desert from remaining IS members.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced on Saturday full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, have been fighting since October 2016 to retake territories Islamic State had occupied.

Abadi’s declaration came after Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Upper Euphrates and Jazirah Combing Operations, announced liberation of all Iraqi lands from IS.

In November, Abadi said his country has defeated Islamic State over the military level, but will declare final victory after desert areas are purged of militants. Earlier in the month, Iraqi forces recaptured Anbar’s western town of Rawa, the very last bastion under Islamic State control.

Source: Iraqi News