ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Shiite paramilitary group of Hashd al-Shaabi reported defeating two ISIS assaults, one in southwest of Mosul and the other south of Tel Kaif, as the second phase of the Mosul campaign enters its second month.
According to an announcement by the Shiite force on Saturday, the 2nd Brigade of the Hashd al-Shaabi repelled and beat a massive assault by ISIS militants in the Khubairat area, southwest of Mosul, killing at least 40 militants.
The second assault, the statement added, was defeated by the Christian Babylon Movement Force, affiliated with Hashd, in the Shuraykhan area, about 20 kilometers south of the recently liberated Christian town of Tel Kaif.
No ISIS casualties were reported in the second defeat.
The two victories by Hashd against ISIS came as the group’s militants are being squeezed in Mosul and its vicinities by Iraqi, Kurdish, and coalition forces.
Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the full liberation of the eastern side of the city last week.
Hashd al-Shaabi was created in June 2014 when Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, Iraq’s highest Shiite religious authority, called for able-bodied men to join the fight against ISIS. In December the Iraqi parliament approved a law recognizing Shiite paramilitary as official forces under the umbrella of the army.
Hashd is primarily battling ISIS west of Mosul, where it has cut off ISIS from its main supply route to Syria.
Operations to push ISIS out of northern Iraq have been underway since Oct. 17, 2016.
CORRECTION: The news report mistakenly reported the first assault in western Mosul, which is still under the full control of the ISIS militants. It was indeed southwest of Mosul. Also, it suggested that the Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary has been tasked with the liberation of the Turkmen town of Tal Afar, the fact is the Iraqi PM decided last year that a unit from the Iraqi army will take that role.
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