Iraqi forces hunt down IS remnants in Hamrin Mountains
After the declaration of victory against the Islamic State, Iraqi security forces are still hunting small groups of IS fighters in the remote areas.
HAMRIN MOUNTAINS, Iraq — Two weeks after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory against the Islamic State (IS), Iraqi joint forces began an operation to clear out remnants of hideouts in the mountainous terrain in the northern Salahuddin province.
On Dec. 25, the third day of the operation, Al-Monitor accompanied local police, a regional SWAT team and fighters from mostly local Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) into the mountains to root out IS members hiding in tunnels and caves.
Officers on the front told Al-Monitor that at least 50 armed IS fighters were estimated to be in the area.
Three IS militants were killed the day that Al-Monitor accompanied the forces, according to an officer on the front, while two members of the local police force were injured.
