Iraqi authorities have launched the second phase of an anti-ISIS operation dubbed Will of Victory. The major operation has been launched in four different governorates, including Salaheddine, Kirkuk, Samarra and Diyala.
Joint Operations Command spokesman Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji said that the operation’s launch is timely seeing as there is intel that suggests plans to attack the ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Iraq. In the past, ISIS has exploited political conditions to assert itself as well as to conduct attacks due to the preoccupation of the forces with events such as rallies and protests.
Khafaji said that on the first day of the Will of Victory operation, security forces destroyed 11 hideouts and three tunnels in Salaheddine and seized 50 kilograms of urea and 23 explosive devices.
ISIS has been seeking to re-establish itself and exploiting security gaps left by retreating special forces and as such, operations like this are very crucial in ensuring that it doesn’t regroup in the said areas.
