Iraqi forces begin operation against ISIS along Syrian border

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s security and paramilitary forces began Sunday a military operation along the border with Syria aimed at clearing the area of Islamic State group militants, the military said in a statement.

Although Iraq declared victory against ISIS in July 2017, the extremists have turned into an insurgency and have carried out deadly attacks in the country.

The military said the operation that began at sunrise was being carried out by Iraqi troops and members of the Popular Mobilization Forces that largely consist of Iran-backed militias.

RELATED

Iraq moves to limit influence of Iran-backed militias

Iraq’s government moved Monday night to control powerful Iran-backed militias in the country, placing them under the full command of the Iraqi armed forces.

It said the operation will last several days and was the first phase of the Will of Victory Operation securing the western province of Anbar and the central and northern regions of Salahuddin and Nineveh.

“We press on the hands of our heroic forces that will achieve victory with the will of its heroes against the gangs of Daesh,” said Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi using an Arabic acronym to refer to ISIS. “May God protect you and make you victorious.”

ISIS once held large parts of Syria and Iraq where it declared a caliphate in 2014. The extremists lost in March the last territory they controlled in Syria.

More In Flashpoints

‘It was a mistake.’ CENTCOM admits Aug. 29 drone strike killed civilians, not ISIS

“The strike was a tragic mistake,” Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, told a Pentagon news conference.

Finishing Max’s mission — parents of corpsman killed in Kabul offered home for Afghan child

Fallen Corpsman Maxton "Max" Soviak's family looked to honor their son by picking up his mission where he left off--saving the children of Afghanistan.

Website launched for all active-duty Marines looking to compete in esports

Marine Corps Gaming is the service branch’s unofficial platform to connect Marines to military esports and to one another.

France says leader of group behind 2017 deaths of four US troops in Niger killed

Rumors of the militant leader’s death had circulated for weeks in Mali, though authorities in the region had not confirmed it.

7 Marines still hospitalized weeks after Kabul airport suicide bombing

Two are in critical but stable condition; five are in serious but stable condition.

In Other News

LGBT vets with other than honorable discharges will get VA benefits under new plan

Department officials will announce the plan on Monday, which includes a review of service records to see if individuals' eligibility for benefits should be approved.

B-2 bomber crashes in Missouri after in-flight malfunction; none injured

The dual-capable conventional and nuclear bomber was not carrying munitions when it crashed.

7-hour Iraq firefight sees 4 Marine Raiders receive Bronze Stars with ‘V’

Here’s what happened that day.

Civilian boss takes charge of Army CID for first time

"We must now clearly establish CID as an elite federal law enforcement agency," the new CID boss said.

What happens to COVID long-haulers in the Army?

“I just want to smell again,” one soldier said.

Load More