Iraqi forces liberate Khaldiyah Island in Anbar province

The Iraqi Army, backed by fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Forces, has fully liberated the strategic Khaldiyah Island in western Anbar province from Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

Hadi al-Ameri, the commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces  (PMF), known as Hashd al-Shaabi, told the Arabic-language al-Sumaria news on Monday that Iraqi government forces successfully established full control over Khaldiyah, a river peninsula and populated area in Anbar province, on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Chief Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat, commander of Iraqi Federal Police Forces, also confirmed that the area is fully cleared from Daesh terrorists.

"Today we declare the liberation of Jazirat al-Khaldiyah. This area was occupied by the enemy for a long time. After pleas from the Iraqi people and Anbar province officials, the Federal Police, Hashd al-Shaabi, the Islamic Resistance groups, Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Air force liberated the area which is vital for the Iraqi economy because it connects the Japanese bridge and the international border crossing with Jordan," he said.

This came after a two-week long battle between Iraqi armed forces and Daesh terrorists along the Euphrates River.

A footage filmed by the Associated Press shows Iraqi troops and pro-government forces firing at Daesh’s targets from both the air and the ground.

Daesh terrorists have taken shelter in the area since being expelled from the city of Fallujah more than a month ago.

Sources say the capture of al-Khaldiyah has opened the highway between the two strategic cities of Fallujah and al-Ramadi.

SS