The deputy chief of Iraq’s powerful Popular Mobilization Forces announced that the PMF regained full control of the area surrounding Samarra in Salahudin province.

The deputy chief of Iraq’s powerful Popular Mobilization Forces, known in Arabic as al-Hashd al-Sha’bi, announced that the PMF regained full control of the area surrounding Samarra in Salahudin province.

Talking about the latest military developments in Iraq on Tuesday, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis said that the PMF reached the Line area, west of Samarra, after they liberated Baiji and al-Siniyah areas.

The PMF commander also stressed that the powerful force, which has been for months engaged in anti-terrorism campaign against the Takfiri insurgents, is ready to help residents of the liberated areas to go back to their home.

The PMF is also taking several measures in a bid to avoid the repetition of attacks by the Takfiri group, ISIL (so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Levant), al-Muhandis added.

In June 2014, ISIL launched an offensive in which it took control of the large swathes in Iraq. However, the Iraqi army, backed by the PMF, managed to liberate large part of the seized areas.