Iraq in new offensive on Islamic State (IS)

This news has been read 14297 times!

IRBIL, Dec 29, (Agencies): Iraqi army launched Sunday the phase 8 of the military operation ‘Will of Victory’ targeting the socalled Islamic State (IS), security media department said in a statement. The new phase of the campaign covers the provinces of Nainawa, Aljazeera, Diyala, Salaheddine, and Kirkuk.

According to the statement, the operation is collaboration between the Army, intelligence services, the Air Force, and USled international coalition forces. Last Friday, US defense contractor was killed and several American and Iraqi troops were wounded in a rocket attack in northern Iraq.

An Iraqi general said Sunday that security has been beefed up around the Ain al-Asad air base, a sprawling complex in the western Anbar desert that hosts US forces, following a series of attacks. Maj Gen Raad Mahmoud told The Associated Press that investigations were still underway to determine who was behind the unclaimed attacks on bases across Iraq, including one earlier this month in which five rockets landed inside Ain al-Asad.

A US defense contractor was killed Friday in a rocket attack at a different Iraqi military compound near Kirkuk where US service members are based. Several American and Iraqi troops were also wounded. US officials said the attack involved as many as 30 rockets. US officials have for the most part blamed Iran-backed fighters for these attacks.

This news has been read 14297 times!