PMU spearheads Hawija battle, as IS fighters 'vanish'

A long-besieged pocket of Islamic State-held territory and surrounding villages in north-central Iraq have been retaken by a mixture of local Sunni and non-local Shiite-led Popular Mobilization Units, alongside Defense and Interior Ministry forces.
IMG_1144.JPG
A member of the Ali al-Akbar Brigade associated with the Popular Mobilization Units stands in front of an Islamic State billboard in a square in central Hawija, Iraq, Oct. 5, 2017. The billboard reads "We will prevail despite the global crusader coalition." - Shelly Kittleson
Shelly Kittleson.jpg
Shelly Kittleson
@shellykittleson

HAWIJA, Iraq — The initial push into the Sunni city of Hawija as part of anti-Islamic State operations on Oct. 4 was spearheaded by a Shiite-led Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) force known as the Ali al-Akbar Brigade, according to both locals and the leaders of the group itself.

Al-Monitor accompanied the Ali al-Akbar Brigade on Oct. 5 as it cleared the city center and several residential areas with tanks and infantry, meeting only a few snipers and suicide attackers.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more