ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hundreds of Hawija tribesmen have recently joined the Iraqi army and largely-Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi to launch a widespread campaign aimed at discovering Islamic State (ISIS) remnants harassing locals in the areas.
Coming out in such large numbers while armed is largely a show of military prowess and an act of showing their support for Iraq's armed forces in their ongoing battle against ISIS.
This is the second campaign against ISIS in Hawija over the last week, after 28 tribal chiefs in Kirkuk province called on locals to take up arms to fight the group.
Although territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017, ISIS remnants are in control of a number of locations on Mount Hamrin and Saddam Hussein's palaces on Mount Makhul in Kirkuk province.
In just one week, ISIS has launched three attacks against Iraqi forces, killing six and wounding eight others in Hawija and its surrounding areas.
Reporting by Hiwa Husamadin
