Iraqi army commander killed in Nassir village
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – An Iraqi army commander was killed while battling to recapture a village from the Islamic State (IS) on Tuesday.
Local Iraqi sources announced that Ahmed Badr al-Luhaibi, the commander of Brigade 71 in the Iraqi army, was killed in the fight with IS, following the recapture of Nassir village.
The Associated Press reported that a sniper fire by IS insurgents killed the army commander.
The Iraqi army, in cooperation with international coalition warplanes, recently launched a new offensive on the Makhmour front, southeast Mosul.
Colonel Ibrahim Mahmood Saba’awy, commander of the 15th battalion of the Iraqi army, told reporters on Tuesday that Iraqi forces were able to control Hamdan and Nassir villages after fierce fighting with IS.
Nassir has been under the control of the Iraqi army twice this year. The first time they captured the city, the army retreated due to heavy clashes with IS extremists.
However, the recent military operation has gone as planned and the army is now in control of the main Makhmour-Gwer road to the IS-controlled city of Qayyara, according to Saba’awy.
US-led coalition warplanes, including US Apache helicopters used for the first time in the war against IS, played an influential role in helping the Iraqi army recapture these areas.
Since the recent offensive that began on June 11, the Iraqi army has been able to control four villages.
Additionally, they have been able to position forces on the main road between Haji Ali village and Shirgat town near the Makhmour front. This area is a strategic location, west of the Tigris River in Salahadin province.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany