Iraqi troops, with the support of the US-led international anti-terrorist coalition, liberated virtually the entire territory of their country, which was captured by the militants of the Islamic State group, said the statement of the coalition’s headquarters, spread on Friday.
“The liberation of the city of El Al-Qaim and the key border crossing with Syria is an important stage in the ongoing campaign against the IS, with the support of the international coalition, the Iraqi forces have now liberated almost all the territory that the IS seized in Iraq,” the document says.
The coalition headquarters also congratulated Baghdad on the complete release of Al-Qaim from terrorists.
Inherent Resolve, the commander of Operation Inherent Resolve, led by the US-led group of countries in Iraq and Syria, Major-General Robert White said that “the threat remains, there is still work to be done,” but the US will continue to support Baghdad.
Earlier on Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Heydar Al-Abadi announced the release of the city of Al Qaim. The settlement, located on the border with Syria, was held by gangs of the IS since 2014.
Within a day from the beginning of the operation, it was possible to take control of the strategic border checkpoint, and also to clean the city of remnants of militants. In the offensive, army units, special forces, the militia of local Sunni tribes and the people’s militia (Al-Hasd al-Shaabi) were involved.
