(The Guardian)- Iraqi forces have retaken an area near the Syrian border from Islamic State as part of operations to expel the jihadis from strongholds in the country’s north.
Al-Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) forces announced the “total liberation” of the Baaj district “with support from the air force”.
“The Iraqi flag has been hoisted above its buildings,” said a statement from the al-Hashed, an umbrella organisation for pro-government paramilitaries that is dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias.
Iraqi and US sources believe the Isis leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been hiding in Baaj. The town is considered one of the important supply lines for Isis through Syria.
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Al-Hashed launched an operation to retake the Qayrawan and Baaj areas west of Mosul on 12 May. On 23 May, the forces announced they had retaken Qayrawan.
Both areas are in Nineveh, the province of which Mosul is the capital, and lie between territory under Isis control in Iraq and Syria.
The jihadis took over large swaths of territory of Iraq and Syria in 2014, but have since faced offensives on several fronts in both countries.
Iraqi forces backed by the US-led coalition have been battling to oust Isis from Mosul since October.
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