Iraq Says Still Following IS Remnants, as Report Indicates 3000-Strong Presence in Desert

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said troops are still following the remnants of the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group, adding that his country will achieve prosperity like it defeated terrorism.

In a speech on occasion of celebrating the 96th anniversary of Police, Abadi said, “We are still following the remnants of the defeated terrorists in the desert. We will conquer them,” Iraqi News reported.

“Congratulations to the champions of the Interior Ministry on their day, which comes at times of great victories against Islamic State,” Abadi added.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Okaz newspaper has quoted an Iraqi security report as saying that around 3,000 IS members are still at Nineveh desert in north of the country, in addition to hundreds of militants in Mosul, Diyala and Salahuddin.

The report tackled logistic support that the militants still receive from unknown resources, according to sources speaking to Okaz. It was unclear if the report discussed presence of a plan for the militants to control regions between eastern province of Diyala and Salahuddin Province, located north of Capital Baghdad, through blocking all roads leading to them.

Last month, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

Iraqi forces, backed by an international coalition and paramilitary troops, have been fighting since October 2016 to retake territories IS had occupied. Since then, forces took back the group’s former capital, Mosul, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija, and Anbar’s Annah, Rawa and Qaim.