Iraqi jets kill 29 Islamic State members in Baaj, western Nineveh














Baaj (IraqiNews.com) Twenty-nine Islamic State militants were killed in an airstrike launched by the Iraqi troops in Baaj town, western Nineveh, according to the Iraqi army.
“The army jets killed 29 IS members and destroyed a booby-trapped container, two vehicles and a third with gun installed on it while backing the paramilitary troops and joint troops in Mosul city and regions located west of it,” Colonel Mohamed al-Malki, spokesperson of the army airforce.
“The joint troops resume its operations that target liberating the remaining IS-held regions in Nineveh,” Malki added.





Close to the Iraqi-Iranian borders, Baaj is considered an important IS stronghold.
While major offensives take place in Mosul by Iraqi troops, backed by U.S.-led coalition, other offensives are launched by the paramilitary troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi to liberate neighboring regions in Nineveh province.
Last week, the paramilitary troops launched a second phase of operations launched earlier this month to complete the liberation of villages in the vicinity of Qairawan, freed on Tuesday, ahead of advancing toward Baaj, west of Mosul city.
An offensive was launched by PMUs on May 12, which resulted in clearing of Qairawan region, a main Islamic State bastion in west of Mosul which links between Tal Afar town and the Syrian borders, from IS militants on Tuesday.



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