DAMASCUS, SYRIA (2:40 A.M.) – On Monday, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) made a big push towards the Syrian-Iraqi borders, reaching the town of Umm al-Jaris.
Umm al-Jaris is right in the border of the Niniveh province with the Al-Hasakah governorate in northeastern Syria, mostly controlled at this moment by the predominantly-Kurdish US-backed Syrian Democractic Forces (SDF).
Many Yazidi militias, formerly under the umbrella of the KRG’s Peshmerga, decided to join the PMU in their push to seal the borders.
Now, after seizing this point at the north of the border, PMU forces are setting their sight in the town of Al-Qaim, the last stronghold of the Islamic State (ISIS) between Syria and Iraq.
As reported earlier, IRGC General Qassem Suleimani has recently appeared in pictures with PMU members somewhere in northwestern Iraq, in a visit clearly related to the recent offensive by the Iraqi forces.
PMU Leader, Hadi Al-Ameri, has stated that their forces will start moving south from Umm al-Jaris towards Al-Qaim and beyond, in order to completely seal the border.
If the PMU take Al-Qaim, ISIS forces will be split in two big pockets, one at each side of the border.
Al-Ameri also said he opposes any kind of US involvement in the area, and that he is coordinating with the Syrian Goverment in that regard.
In addition, PMU Spokesman Karim Nouri said PMU forces could eventually cross from Iraq to Syria to fight ISIS militants if Damascus wants and allow it.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is advancing across the Syrian desert towards Iraq, and is quite close to reach the Al-Tanf border crossing, clashing with ISIS and US-backed FSA rebels in the process.
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