The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) fought off an attack by ISIS terrorists south of the Iraqi holy city of Samarra on Friday.

Iran Press/Middle East: The Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi(PMF) said the ISIS (also known as Daesh) terrorists were trying to infiltrate through Tal al-Zahab region, south of Samarra, and block a strategic road to the city of al-Balad and the Shrine of Syed Muhammad bin Imam Hadi.

However, it added, the terrorists were detected with the use of thermal cameras, and the Hashd al-Sha’abi forces repelled their offensive.

Earlier this month, the Hashd al-Sha’abi deployed massive forces in Diyala province near Iran's border to counter ISIS terrorists in joint operations with the Iraqi army.

The move came after ISIS terrorists attacked an important oil-rich area east of the province on the Iraqi-Iranian border.

Several members of the popular forces were killed and wounded in the terrorist attack on the city of Diyala. It was the biggest deployment of PMF in the region to counter the threat of Daesh.

In another attack this month, at least seven fighters from the Hashd al-Sha'abi lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when a massive bomb explosion struck their convoy in Iraq’s north-central province of Salahuddin.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack, but such assaults bear the hallmark of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters have played a major role in the liberation of ISIS-held areas to the south, northeast, and north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, ever since the terrorists launched an offensive in the country, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks.205/211

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