Iraqi prime minister underlines support for popular fighters

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has underlined Baghdad’s support for the country’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), known as Hashd al-Sha'abi.

According to Press TV, speaking at a conference on Saturday, Abadi warned against any hostile position against the popular forces and noted that the group comprises various Iraqi ethnic groups.

The Hashd al-Sha'abi forces are "defending Iraq’s dignity and unity" and it is "everyone’s duty" to support them, the prime minister said.

Abadi hailed the emerging unity in Iraq as a source of optimism for the nation and noted that Iraqi forces are continuing to fulfill their promise to liberate the country from Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

His remarks come as, according to a statement by the Iraqi Defense Ministry, 150 Daesh terrorists have been killed during Iraqi forces’ airstrikes west of the city of Tal Afar in Nineveh Province.

The statement also noted that the Iraqi forces continue to advance in the Old City in west Mosul and have attacked several Daesh positions with the support of US-led aircraft.

Iraqi army soldiers and PMU fighters launched their offensive to retake Mosul last October and since then they have made sweeping gains against the Takfiri elements.

SS