Iraq News
Economy

Iraqi forces support reconstruction efforts

By Khalid al-Taie

Iraqi military engineering teams on June 29th work to rehabilitate the al-Qayyarah floating bridge in southern Mosul. [Photo courtesy of the Iraqi Ministry of Defence]

Iraqi military engineering teams on June 29th work to rehabilitate the al-Qayyarah floating bridge in southern Mosul. [Photo courtesy of the Iraqi Ministry of Defence]

Iraqi military engineering teams are involved in the effort to rebuild cities and towns affected by the war against the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

These teams have completed projects to rehabilitate roads and bridges in Ninawa province, Maj. Gen. Tahseen al-Khafaji, a spokesman for the Joint Operations Command, told Diyaruna.

All branches of the security forces have the basic duty of protecting citizens and their property from any danger or threat, he said.

Additionally, "our forces have other responsibilities, including supporting civil sectors in efforts to restore public services in liberated provinces, alleviating the burden on the people, and consolidating stability", he said.

Iraqi soldiers on May 20th comb villages in Diyala province to search for ISIS cells. [Photo courtesy of the Iraqi army's 5th Infantry Division]

Iraqi soldiers on May 20th comb villages in Diyala province to search for ISIS cells. [Photo courtesy of the Iraqi army's 5th Infantry Division]

"We have taken part through our military engineering teams in campaigns to rebuild destroyed infrastructure," said al-Khafaji, noting that these teams have repaired and re-opened many service projects, particularly in Ninawa province.

The most recent project was the rehabilitation of the al-Qayyarah floating bridge in the south of Mosul, a vital bridge that will help ease traffic, he said.

Additionally, major roads that connect Ninawa to other provinces have been rehabilitated and re-opened, including the Ninawa-Kirkuk and Ninawa-Erbil roads and other secondary roads.

"We are co-ordinating our work with public and private sector companies to rebuild other projects, including schools and medical clinics," al-Khafaji said, adding that efforts are also underway to remove military waste from residential areas.

Health, security efforts

"We have completed preparations to cope with any emergency situation," al-Khafaji said, noting that Iraqi forces are supporting health workers fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by providing medical supplies and transporting patients.

"We are also working to deliver food aid and drinking water to families in poor areas and displacement camps," he added.

Meanwhile, military operations against ISIS remnants "are intensifying and we continue to pound their hideouts and track them down through intelligence efforts", said al-Khafaji.

Security forces in the past few days, backed by international coalition aircraft, have killed a large number of ISIS remnants and arrested others in the Atshana and Qara Jogh mountains in Makhmour district and in Diyala villages.

New operations concentrated in the areas west of Ninawa will be launched soon, he said.

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