Alwaght- Iraqi army backed by Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) has managed to retake a village from ISIS terrorist group and link up along the Tigris River as the motivated Iraqi troops are getting ready for liberation of last ISIS Stronghold in Iraq, Mosul.
The Iraqi News cited Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi as saying “The Iraqi forces on Tuesday were successful in liberating a village from ISIS control and it also successfully linked up along the Tigris River with army units who are marching forward”.
The territorial achievement came after the recapture of al-Qayara air base in Southern Mosul on 8 July, that further isolated ISIS-held Mosul in preparation for "mother of all battles" to retake the city
"Forces from the 9th Armoured Division and the counter-terrorism service liberated Ajhala village north of Qayara base," Obeidi said on Twitter.
"Our heroes arrived at the riverbank and made contact with Nineveh Liberation Operation units," he added, referring to troops who had set out from Makhmour, 25 km east of the Tigris, in March.
The key air base will be used as a staging ground for the Mosul operation.
Iraqi Army backed by PMF, also known as Hashid Shaabi, in a historic operation, liberated Fallujah city from ISIS terrorist group on 26 June 2016, paving the way for Mosul battle.
On the onset of Fallujah operation the US announced that it will not help Iraqi army to retake Fallujah unless Abadi's government prevents PMF, mainly Shiite militia organization, from participating in the operation.
Nevertheless, Iraqi military backed by PMF and without US aid managed to free some parts of the city, making Pentagon to withdraw from its precondition and launch some airstrikes against ISIS to receive a share, although small one.
Ousting ISIS from Fallujah, the Iraqi forces launched an offensive against ISIS terrorists on June 18 to retake the southern part of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, and the town of Qayyarah.
As the Iraqi army is preparing for main operation in Mosul, US defense minister visited Baghdad, and announced deployment of 560 additional troops for Mosul’s Liberation Operation.
The announcement that came shortly after Iraqi army's landmark gains against ISIS lead many to think that the timing of the US decision was part of a bid to sweep the victory and claim it as its own, particularly that this location will be used as a staging ground for the Mosul operation.
Again, Washington wants to look as if it came to the rescue and saved Iraq from the threat of ISIS and in turn appear as the leader of the anti-terror campaign in the world.
