Iraqi army clear 175 villages from IS militants

BAGHDAD, Nov 26 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi army have completed the first stage of the western Al-Jazeera region liberation operation after driving so-called Islamic State (IS) militants out of 175 villages.
In a press statement, the army said on Sunday that its forces backed by the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces have regained controlled over a total area of 14,000 square kilometers in Al-Jazeera region.
The recaptured areas include 175 villages, five bridges and crossing points, and an airport, it pointed out.
It stated that the advancing forces destroyed 11 IS trucks, 18 booby-trapped vehicles, and seven explosives-laden motorbikes.
The forces also detonated or defused over 1,000 bombs and seized six bomb-making laboratories, the army said. (end) ahh.ibi