Iraqi Volunteer Forces Uncover Biggest Tunnel Used by Daesh near Fallujah
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior commander of Iraq’s volunteer forces, known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), said the forces have discovered the biggest tunnel used by Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group near Fallujah.
The Badr Organization, whose armed forces are part of the PMF, managed to uncover a tunnel dug by Daesh militants near Fallujah on Friday, a senior commander of the Badr Organization told Iraq's Alsumaria news network.
“This is the biggest (underground) tunnel of its kind, which stretches a large area and connects various districts and neighborhoods,” he noted.
In another development in Fallujah, US-led coalition strikes supporting Iraqi forces have reportedly killed 70 Daesh terrorists including the group’s commander in the city, according to the US military.
Media reports said that Maher al-Bilawi, the commander of Daesh militants in Fallujah, was killed on Wednesday.
On Sunday, the Iraqi government deployed at least 20,000 troops to combat extremists in Daesh-held city of Fallujah.
Simultaneously, the Iraqi armed forces issued a warning to the city’s civilian population to flee the city as soldiers prepared an operation to reclaim Fallujah.
Later in the early hours of Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the launch of the operation, saying, "There is no option for Daesh except to flee."
Fallujah, in the western Anbar province, has been under control by Daesh militants since 2014. Reports emerged recently that militants of the terrorist group began killing residents attempting to leave the city.