PMF declares full control over Qairawan town in west Mosul

Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi forces on Tuesday declared control of Qairawan town located in the west of Mosul after over 10 days of fighting against the Islamic State (IS).

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi forces on Tuesday declared control of Qairawan town located in the west of Mosul after over 10 days of fighting against the Islamic State (IS).

Hashd al-Shaabi, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), launched an offensive to liberate Qairawan and surrounding villages from the insurgent group.

The town is an important location for the Shia force to reach al-Baaj, a strategic region which borders Syria.

“Qairawan town has been liberated,” the PMF declared in a statement.

In another report, one of the commanders of the PMF Hadi al-Amri stated it was “a quick night operation,” saying the offensive to liberate the center of Qairawan was straightforward.

According to military analysts, the PMF aims to head toward the town of al-Baaj in the south of Sinjar (Shingal), an area where IS leader Abu Bakir al-Baghdadi is believed to be hiding.

The Shia forces operation near Qairawan and southern Shingal has concerned the Kurdish Peshmerga forces as the PMF approaches the Kurdish Ezidi-populated areas still under IS control.

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany