Attacks spark fears that Iraq's 'liberated areas' aren't free of IS
Islamic State fighters are still launching attacks against Iraq’s security forces in the liberated areas, indicating that there are still some IS enclaves and cells present on the edges of the cities.
BAGHDAD — Although the Islamic State (IS) lost 50% of the territory it had taken control of since June 10, 2014, some of the group’s members who are still at large have succeeded in launching occasional attacks on security units in the country. Most recently, on Sept. 15, IS launched an attack targeting the Ajeel oil field, east of the city of Tikrit in Salahuddin province.
It seems the Iraqi security units and forces supporting them have not completely cleansed the areas that have been under the control of IS for the past two years, since their liberation. There are still some IS enclaves leading occasional surprise attacks against government forces in control of the liberated areas.
The attack on the Ajeel oil field — which the security forces regained control of on April 16 — points to an organized movement of IS fighters in the city of Salahuddin that was liberated more than a year ago. Also, these IS fighters — whose numbers are unknown — used heavy weapons in the attack, which shows that there may be arms storage sites that the Iraqi government forces have yet to find.
On Sept. 13, IS fighters tried to infiltrate Ramadi city, the center of Anbar province, but Iraqi security forces managed to stop them. Anbar police chief Maj. Gen. Hadi Razij said during a press conference on the same day, “The joint operations room is preparing a plan [to be implemented] by all security units in Anbar. The Anbar police will participate in the liberation of Ramadi, as well as al-Qaim, Anah and Rawa.”
