{"id":36681,"date":"2017-10-26T16:14:37","date_gmt":"2017-10-26T16:14:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/26\/iraqi-forces-launch-operation-to-retake-last-isis-stronghold-in-iraq\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:06:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:06:38","slug":"iraqi-forces-launch-operation-to-retake-last-isis-stronghold-in-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/10\/26\/iraqi-forces-launch-operation-to-retake-last-isis-stronghold-in-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"Iraqi forces launch operation to retake last ISIS stronghold in Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Iraqi forces have launched an operation to liberate the last remaining territories under ISIS control in Iraq. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al-Qaim and Rawa are the last remaining territories controlled by ISIS militants in Iraq. U.S. officials in Baghdad estimate that there may be nearly 1,500 ISIS fighters in al-Qaim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe heroic legions are advancing to eliminate the last bastion of terrorism in Iraq to liberate al-Qaim, Rawa, villages and towns in western Anbar, all of which will return to the homeland,\u201d Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement posted to Facebook Thursday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al-Qaim is a strategic town located near the Syrian border that was captured by ISIS militants in June of 2014. Before its capture, the town boasted a population of roughly 150,000 inhabitants, according to U.S. officials at Operation Inherent Resolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISIS has rapidly lost territory since the fall of Mosul in mid-July. The city of Tal Afar was liberated by Iraqi forces in August, and the town of Hawija was freed of ISIS militants in mid-September after a mere couple weeks of fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISIS\u2019 de facto capital city of Raqqa was liberated by U.S.-backed the Syrian Democratic Forces in mid-October after just four months of fighting. SDF fighters backed by U.S. airpower have continued an offensive against ISIS in Deir Ez-Zour province along the Middle Euphrates River Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rapid deterioration of ISIS has called into question the militant group\u2019s capability to launch offensive operations and the current state of its core leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Col. Patrick Work, the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division\u2019s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, ISIS\u2019 rapid collapse largely is due to the resources the terror group expended defending Mosul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nearly nine month battle sapped the group\u2019s manpower and logistics, Work told reporters during a phone interview in early October.<\/p>\n\n\n\t