Anti-Daesh Campaign Begins in Karbala Deserts by Iraqi Resistance Groups

WebDesk

25 June, 2026 10:43

Anti-Daesh Campaign Begins in Karbala Deserts by Iraqi Resistance Groups

Iraqi resistance fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) have launched a massive security operation in the desert areas surrounding the province of Karbala against Daesh remnants, according to a report.

Al-Maalomah news website on Tuesday quoted a security source from Anbar province as saying that the PMU launched “a large-scale security campaign” in the desert area extending from the Western province of Anbar to the borders of the Karbala province to chase the remaining terrorists and detect their weapons’ warehouses.

According to the source, the operation has been conducted in coordination with the Operations Command of the two governorates.

“The campaign aims to clear the targeted areas and tighten security measures in those areas, some of which are classified as ‘dangerous’ due to their complex terrain,” the source told al-Maalomah.

According to the report, the forces have so far managed to destroy “a large number of secret tunnels and earthen embankments” established by the Daesh terrorists when they had taken control of most of the desert areas that connect the two provinces.

The campaign aims to “purge all desert areas and deploy fixed and mobile security checkpoints to prevent any security breaches,” the source stated.

The PMU resistance fighters have played a major role in the liberation of Daesh-held areas to the south, northeast, and north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, ever since the terrorists launched an offensive in the country in June 2014.

Back in November 2016, the Iraqi parliament approved a law giving full legal status to the PMU fighters. It recognized the PMU as part of the national armed forces, placed the forces under the command of the prime minister, and granted them the right to receive salaries and pensions like the regular army and police forces.