https://southfront.org/popular-mobilization-units-operations-in-areas-near-syrian-iraqi-border/
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Voiceover by Harold Hoover
The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) have liberated 360 villages from ISIS terrorists west of Mosul, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Deputy Commander of the PMU announced on June 10th. He added that PMU fighters “have also managed to kill 2,000 ISIS terrorists west of the northern province of Nineveh,” of which Mosul is the capital.
The PMU commander added that the group is “ready to liberate Tal Afar town,” situated 63km west of Mosul and “are now waiting for the orders of Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Haider al-Abadi.”
The declaration followed a series of successful PMU operations aimed at reaching the border with Syria and liberating large areas from ISIS in western Nineveh.
On April 25th, the PMU announced the start of the operation Muhammad Rasool Allah to liberate Hatar town located 80km south of Mosul. The town is located in a strategic area that links the provinces of Mosul, Salah al-Din and Al-Anbar. The operation was launched in full coordination with the Iraqi Army and was supported directly by the Iraqi Air Force.
On April 28th, the PMU took full control of Hatar. The PMU revealed that several ISIS headquarters, including the governor of the state and the military force HQ, had been located there. The operation ended with the liberation of 1,500 square kilometers including 22 villages. As a result of the PMU operation, 253 ISIS militants were killed and 38 vehicles and VBIEDs were destroyed.
The PMU launched a similar operation under the name “Muhammad Rasool Allah 2″ on May 12th. The aim of the first phase of the operation was the liberation of al-Qayrawan, 120km west of Mosul. ISIS used al-Qayrawan from which to launch several attacks with the aim of breaking the PMU siege of Tal Afar.
By the fifth day of the operation, the PMU reached the village of Pashuk north of al-Qayrawan, the villages of Tal al-Dalaa’, and Thary al-Karah south of the town, and outflanked the ISIS stronghold.
The first phase of Operation Muhammad Rasool Allah 2 ended on May 23rd, when the PMU launched a night attack on al-Qayrawan and liberated it.
On May 25th, the PMU announced the start of the second phase of the operation “Muhammad Rasool Allah” under the name “Martyrs of Sinjar.” The declared goal of the operation was to capture the strategic town of Al-Baaj and to reach the Iraqi-Syrian border. Al-Baaj was located along the main supply line of ISIS between Syria and Iraq.
On May 29th, the PMU reached the Syrian-Iraqi border after liberating a number of villages in western Nineveh. After that, the PMU began advancing west and southwest of Al-Baaj, encircling terrorists in the area.
On June 4th, the PMU liberated Al-Baaj. The PMU described the town of Al-Baaj as “the secret capital of ISIS organization.” The town was allegedly a rear base for many ISIS commanders, including Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The PMU also liberated dozens of villages near al-Baaj.
ISIS suffered notable losses in this battle and the remaining fighters reportedly withdrew towards the Sainiah desert and the towns of Al-Mayadeen and Al-Bukamal in the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor.
The Iraqi Air Force participated in operations “Muhammad Rasool Allah 1” and “Muhammad Rasool Allah 2”. Iraqi warplanes and attack helicopters played an important role, destroying ISIS positions and fortifications in Hatar, al-Qayrawan, and Al-Baaj, as well as assisting PMU fighters to counter ISIS VBIEDs.
Several PMU sources announced that the Qaim border crossing en route to Deir Ezzor may become the next target of the PMU in the area alongside the border with Syria. At the same time, the group spokesperson said that the PMU will not enter Syria before the full liberation of Iraq and that this move would require authorization by the Iraqi parliament.
However, several PMU units are currently operating in Syria alongside forces loyal to the Damascus government. Members of the Al-Imam Ali Battalions and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba are among these units.
The PMU advance significantly decreased the ability of ISIS to operate in the Syrian-Iraqi border area and assisted the Syrian Arab Army in reaching the border with Iraq. ISIS units had repeatedly ignored the so-called US-led forces combating ISIS in southeastern Syria. In turn, they were constantly attacking Syrian government forces preventing their operations in the direction of Deir Ezzor and the Iraqi border area.
Now, when the PMU and the Syrian Army have a direct link on the ground in southeastern Syria, it’s expected that Iran, which closely cooperates with the PMU, will soon be able to establish a ground supply line to Syria, boosting assistance to Syrian government forces in the country.
At the same time, the ability of the PMU to control large parts of the border with Syria will boost the role of the group in Iraq.
Last week the Russian military declared the Syrian “civil” war had ended.
Mostly greeted with silence from the mounthpiece media of the Hegemon. A fe bloggers mocked, but most were indifferent.
If there is still fighting in Syria, how can the Russians say the “civil” war is over? Simple.
The ongoing conflict in Syria is with foreign agitators….. all are the proxies known fluidly as ISIS, al-Qaida etc….. And their sponsors _ USA, Israel, UK+ KSA…
This week the US has been placed in a holding pen in Southern Syria…… non-strategic “cowboys” on the ground used the Free Syrian Army to attack Syrian and allied forces.
But they’ve been castrated, as the RF has called them out internationally, and their Secretary of State has this week testified they have no legal right to even be located on Syrian territory…… So (theoretically), they are a chess piece removed from play……. Now just cut-off and sitting in a corner in the hot desert sun, they can’t use the highway to supply ISUS at Deir Ezzor…
Prior to that, Russia spent a year patiently spinning a very fine constraining web around Erdogan and Turkey.. it’s very difficult for him now to actively allow supplies in from Turkey, and his own profiteering from the illegal oil sales has been thwarted….
So now Qatar has been “neutralised” – we don’t care about the hypocrisy of the Saudis calling Qatar ISUS sponsors…. that tentacle of the evil octopus strangling Syria is chopped off.
Contemporaneously, Russia has chopped off the internal financial spigots of oil and drugs. The ISIS thugs are mercs….. So no money, no action.
To stop the illegal black market of oil and drugs again the Russians used international legal processes to have this black market exposed and eliminated.
It infuriated the US _ but they had to pretend the illegal market was a surprise to them! and then they were forced to take action to cut off the financial investments funding ISUS. Painful and humiliating.
So, with the battles being fought (and won by Russia) both on the ground in Syria, and behind the scenes, now we see real progress.
The tide has turned and now the Syrians are able to retrieve their country from the Demons..
SAA!!!! SAA!!!! SAA!!!!
@White Whale. Excellent summary, Moby. I see you have not lost your touch. Lurk in the depths, let Uncle Ahab and his fanatic whale-hunters waste their substance in mad pursuit of you around the world, from pole to tropic, from tropic to pole, then surface and with a flick of your tail capsize the whole rotten crew and smash their rotten ship. May the seabirds fly free forever, even though Captain Sam took one down with him before that madman and his globalist crew of environment destroyers went down in your wake.
Thanks for your perspective White Whale!
Thank you SouthFront for the good news and thanks WW for explaing the implications! SAA, Viva Syria!!!
good overall summary re situation Syria here
http://theduran.com/syrian-army-prepares-massive-advance-palmyra-towards-deir-ezzor/
usa blocked off, SAA heading in vast numbers eastwards…………….
Adds Canthama:
“Arak gas field and village liberated, the T3 area will now be indefensible for ISIS, it will be liberated in no time. So far this week has seen a tremendous success by the SAA.
Arak area has one of the best ISIS defensive lines in all Syria and Iraq battle fields, it has been nearly impossible to break it since 2015.
With T3 liberated, the road to T2 will be under SAA control in no time. The liberation of Der ez Zor’s siege is on the horizon.”
“Strong indications that Syrian MoD/Tiger Forces will announce soon that eastern Khanaser is 100% ISIS free, which would mean all the area inside the red box (map below).
Should that be confirmed, ISIS will be left will very few roads out of the eastern Hama/central Homs pocket, ISIS will be in a very dangerous situation, since the Tiger Forces can be joined by the 5th Corps at al Sha’er and try a combined push and close all the roads out of the pocket in few days of battles.
ISIS has been known for not being led to traps without an exit, they have retreated in several previous occasion in similar fatal check mate. Next few days will be very important for this area, the more the SAA and allies move their pieces and check mate ISIS, the faster ISIS retreat and leave large areas behind, for eastern Hama/Central Homs, that would be simply huge with tremendous rippling effect in eastern Syria’s offensive, thousands of soldiers would be liberated to the final push East.”