Baghdad, Jul 7 (AP/UNB) — Iraq's security and paramilitary forces have begun a military operation along the border with Syria aiming to clear the area of Islamic State group militants.
The Iraqi military said the operation that began at sunrise Sunday is being carried out by Iraqi troops and members of the Popular Mobilization Forces that largely consist of Iran-backed militias.
It said the operation that will last several days is the first phase of the Will of Victory Operation that aims to secure wide areas of the western province of Anbar and the central and northern regions of Salahuddin and Nineveh.
Although Iraq declared victory against IS in July 2017, the extremists have turned into an insurgency and have carried out deadly attacks in the country.