ISIL Suffers Heavy Defeat in Clashes with Iraqi Forces at Border with Syria

TEHRAN (Defapress)- Hashd al-Shaabi fighters exchanged heavy fire with ISIL that tried to break through the Iraqi forces' positions via Tal Safouk border-crossing and fended off their attack.

Also, Hashd al-Shaabi's artillery units pounded ISIL's positions in Tal Safouk.

In the meantime, field sources in Central Iraq said that the 52nd Brigade of Hashd al-Shaabi opened heavy fire at the remaining pockets of ISIL terrorists at Sarheh Bridge in Tuz Khormato in Salahuddin province, killing and wounding tens of the gunmen.

Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pledged to continue airstrikes on the positions and headquarters of ISIL inside neighboring Syria, stressing that Baghdad would not meddle in the political affairs of the Damascus government.

“Iraq will continue air strikes in Syria and will do more to eliminate ISIL group. It will neither allow ISIL militants to come back, nor a similar terrorist organization to appear, but Iraq doesn't mean to interfere in internal affairs of Syria,” al-Abadi stated.

Lieutenant General Anwar Hama Amin, the commanding officer of the Iraqi air force, also noted that Iraqi military aircraft would press ahead with their aerial attacks against ISIL strongholds in Syria.

"All the countries in the world are fighting against the terrorist organization. Today we have a Joint Operations Command in Iraq and we have a commander-in-chief. When they issue orders of strikes, we will implement them without hesitation,” he commented.

Iraqi authorities have on occasions stated that they work closely with the Syrian government to monitor and target terrorist targets based on the efforts of intelligence and information departments of the security coordination committee formed between Baghdad, Damascus, Tehran and Moscow years ago, as well as coordination with the so-called US-led anti-ISIL coalition.

“If we perform a strike, we will coordinate with the international coalition, the joint security center and all the relevant parties. As we work together, we follow the principle of partnership to ensure safety and harmony between allies,” Iraqi Defense Ministry Spokesman Tahseen al-Khafaji said.

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