Army makes fresh gains against Daesh in Iraq's Saladin

By Ali Jawad and Amir al-Saadi

BAGHDAD

Iraqi forces have recaptured most of Shirqat district’s eastern half from the Daesh terrorist group, Iraqi police sources said Friday.

“Federal police have established control over 140 square kilometers [54 square miles] of Shirqat’s eastern half, representing some 60 percent of the targeted area,” Federal Police Lt.-Gen. Raed Jawdat said in a statement.

Located in Saladin province north of Baghdad, the Shirqat district is one of Daesh’s last remaining strongholds in northern Iraq.

According to Jawdat, police forces killed about 130 Daesh militants during the recent fighting and neutralized dozens of booby-trapped vehicles.

Iraqi forces also managed to recapture another 25 villages in northern and eastern Shirqat, according to Army Capt. Jabbar Hassan.

“Following intense clashes on Friday, Iraqi joint forces managed to restore 25 villages in the northern and eastern parts of the district,” Hassan told Anadolu Agency.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced the launch of twin operations aimed at “liberating” both Saladin’s Shirqat district and Kirkuk’s Hawija district.