5 Federal Police personnel killed in Islamic State attack in Mosul

Five Federal Police personnel were killed in an armed attack launched by Islamic State militants in western Mosul, a police source said on Wednesday. “Seven IS militants attacked a checkpoint for Federal Police in al-Rifa’ie district. The confrontations left five personnel killed,” the source told BasNews.

“The attackers then ran away toward an unknown destination,” the source added. According to residents from the region, the attackers were able to escape in the same region,however, troops carried out a campaign that lasted for more than an hour in search for them.

The accident is considered the second in two weeks, after a similar attack was carried out by three militants against Federal Police checkpoint in al-Zanjili, in Old City. The attack left a lieutenant general and two other personnel killed.

On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25000 militants were killed throughout the campaign, which started in October 2016.

A monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), which excludes security members deaths, said 196 civilians were killed, while 381 others were wounded due to violence and armed conflicts during the month of September. The fatalities included 10 foreign nationals. Baghdad was the most affected province with 37 deaths and 157 injuries. Dhi Qar province came in the second place with 82 killed and 93 injured. Anbar came in the third place with 20 killed and 46 injured.

In the same context, Iraqi government forces took over a border crossing with Syria n Wednesday as they seek to impose control over border posts held by Kurdish forces.

Bonian al-Jarba, a member of the Nineveh province council, told Alsumaria News that “Iraqi forces tightened their control over the Rabia border crossing with Syria after the withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). He said the takeover came as forces had previously deployed in Rabia region.

Iraqi government forces took over Kurdish-held regions in Diyala and Nineveh as per an operation carried out to implement directives by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi who ordered to “impose security” at territories disputed on with Kurdistan Region. The operation came as a response to a referendum Kurdistan Region ran in September and came in favor of secession from Iraq.

Earlier this month, Iraqi forces took over government facilities and main oil fields in Kirkuk as part of the operation. Sporadic clashes were reported between Iraqi troops and Popular Mobilization Forces on one side, and Kurdish Peshmerga troops on the other side.

Kurdistan Region government offered earlier on Wednesday to impose a ceasefire and resort to dialogue to defuse the military and political standoff with Baghdad. The Iraqi government has yet to respond to the offer.

On political side, The Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has announced launch of operations to liberate Qaim and Rawa towns, Islamic State’s last strongholds in western Anbar. In a statement issued on Thursday, Abadi addressed the people saying that troops have swept through Qaim, Rawa and al-Qasabat. “We will continue our achievements in all fields to our people.”

He also reiterated that Islamic State has no option other than surrendering or death. On Wednesday, the military media said hundreds of thousands of messages were airdropped on the two towns informing civilians that security troops are coming to free them and urging them to stay away from the enemy.

Na’im al-Ka’oud, head of the Anbar provincial council’s security committee, was quoted this week as saying that military Operations to retake Rawa and Qaim will be launched by end of the month. Anbar’s western towns of Qaim and Rawa have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic “Caliphate”.

Iraqi army announced the total recapture of the town of Annah and neighboring Rayhana area last month. Troops also liberated Akashat region, between Rutba town, on borders with Jordan, and Qaim, on borders with Syria. Iraqi troops were able to return life back to normal in the biggest cities of Anbar including Fallujah, Ramadi and others after recapturing them in 2015 and 2016.