More than 100 Islamic State militants have been killed by Iraqi joint troops within the second phase of offensive launched in southwest of Kirkuk.

A statement by Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat, Federal Police chief, said “troops along with Rapid Response forces and al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) managed to regain control on 70 square kilometers in west of Hawija, liberate 23 villages and regions, kill 144 militants, destroy 45 booby-trapped vehicles and evacuate 150 displaced families during the second operation of Hawija offensive.”

Earlier on the day, Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yaralla, commander of Hawija Operations, announced killing of 96 militants, destroying 13 vehicles in airstrikes in Hawija. A statement by the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell, Yaralla said, “Iraqi jets launched several airstrikes targeting the group’s locati ons in Hawija.”

“The airstrikes left 96 militants and 13 vehicles destroyed,” he added. Joint troops managed to free 11 villages in Hawija, Yaralla previously said on the day. Early on Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command announced beginning of the second phase of Hawija offensive.

According to Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell, 557 IS militants were killed, while more than 100 villages and regions were liberated during the first phase, which launched earlier this month and was concluded on Sunday.

In the same context, Four Islamic State militants have been killed in airstrikes by Iraqi jets, northeast of Diyala, a commander was quoted saying on Friday. “Iraqi fighter jets targeted an IS vehicle near Hamreen lake, northeast of Baquba, killing four militants on board and destroying the vehicle completely,” Maj. Gen. Mazhar al-Azzawi, commander of Dijla Operations, told AlSumaria News.

“Efforts by the command are ongoing to eradicate IS sleeper cells in the town,” Azzawi added. Iraqi jets destroyed several IS vehicles and rest houses in Hamreen over the past few weeks. In related news, Azzawi said all roads in the province, indicating stable security situations.

“All roads in Diyala, including Kirkuk-Baghdad road, are open. No roads are blocked,” he said.
Attacks launched by Islamic State militants against security troops, the pro-government forces and civilians surged over the past few weeks in northeast of Diyala, which urge the Iraqi forces to prevent the militants infiltration between Salahuddin and Kirkuk provinces, especially the regions stretching along Hamreen mountains and Al-Azeem town.

IS holds pivotal regions that link between each of Diyala, Salahuddin and Kirkuk, posing threats to the liberated regions. The government and military commanders are expected to wage operations at other IS havens across the country, including Diyala, in order to mark an end to the group’s self-styled “caliphate” declared by the group in 2014.

On political side, The commander in chief of the Iraqi armed forces has congratulated troops on liberation of a region from Islamic State in southwest of Kirkuk. A statement issued by the office of Haidar al-Abadi on Friday said “Abadi greets our champions on liberation of Abbassi, located in Hawija, in short time.”

Earlier on the day, Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat, chief of Federal Police, said in a statement that troops completely liberated al-Abbassi region, as well as a school and medical center in Gharib village, west of Hawija. Early on Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and the Joint Operations Command announced beginning of the second phase of Hawija offensive.

On Sunday, the Joint Operations Command announced completing the first phase of operations to recapture Hawija, which launched on September 21. According to Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell, 557 IS militants were killed, while more than 100 villages and regions were liberated during the first phase.

Brig. Gen. Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said previously that the number of Islamic State members in Hawija falls between 800 and 1500. Hawija and other neighboring regions, west of Kirkuk, have been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria.