Daesh attack kills 13 Iraqi fighters in Mosul

By Ahmed Qassem and Sarhad Shaker

BAGHDAD (AA) – At least 13 pro-government fighters were killed in a Daesh attack in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul on Tuesday, according to an Iraqi military officer.

Scores of Daesh militants attacked military barracks and checkpoints belonging to the Hashd al-Shaabi militia in Tal Safuk, west of Mosul, Capt. Sabhan Kazem told Anadolu Agency.

He said clashes flared between the two sides for an hour before the attackers pulled out into the desert after the Iraqi army sent reinforcements into the area.

“Thirteen fighters were killed and a number of vehicles were damaged in the attack,” he said.

No casualties were reported among Daesh militants.

Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced that the war against the Daesh terrorist group was over, saying that Iraq’s border with Syria had been completely secured.

Daesh has recently suffered a string of defeats in Iraq and Syria after overrunning much of both countries in mid-2014.