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Iraq militia rules out ground operations against Daesh in Syria

April 23, 2018 at 9:39 am

Iraqi security forces celebrate the success of freeing Mosul from Daesh on 9 July 2017 [Yunus Keleş/Anadolu Agency]

Iraqi security forces are more likely to rely on air forces to strike Daesh in Syria than to carry out ground operations in the country, an official from the Popular Mobilisation Forces said.

“The Popular Mobilisation Forces are ready to enter Syria and fight the terrorist organisation there,” the group’s spokesman, Ali Al-Husseini, said in a statement.

“The popular crowd is directly linked to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and will carry out his orders to fight Daesh in Syria if they came,” he added.

Al-Husseini added that the Iraqi air forces have proven their ability to target terrorism in Syria; therefore it can rely on its air force.

Iraq: Western air strikes on Syria could let terrorism expand

Last Thursday, Iraqi air forces carried out strikes against Daesh in Syrian near the border with Iraq, a statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi’s office said.

The prime minister declared final victory over the ultra hardline group in December but it still poses a threat from pockets along the border with Syria and has continued to carry out ambushes, assassinations and bombings across Iraq.