Iraqi forces have cleared 20 villages of war remnants and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) left behind by the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) in al-Baaj in south-west Ninawa, the Ninawa Operations Command said Thursday (August 29th).
The Military Engineering Unit and the army’s intelligence forces removed about two tonnes of explosives, IEDs, RPGs, and other dangerous items from 20 villages that lie near the Syria border, Commander Maj. Gen. Numan al-Zawbaie told Diyaruna.
The weapons and explosives were either found at ISIS hideouts or being used as booby traps intended to target security forces and civilians, he said.
"The army will proceed with its search and comb operations to accelerate the return of residents to those villages before the end of the year," he said.
It also will help restore water and electricity services and rehabilitate schools and health centres as part of the stabilisation efforts in liberated cities, he added.
