Iraqi police forces seize major Daesh chemical depot in Anbar

This picture provided by Arabic-language al-Qurtas News news agency shows Iraqi forces at a major Daesh chemical depot in the Salman district of al-Qa’im town, western Iraq.

Iraqi security forces have uncovered a major chemical depot belonging to Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the country’s western province of Anbar, as government forces, backed by fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, are purging the territory of the last remnants of the terror group.

The Iraqi Directorate of General Military Intelligence said in a statement that police forces together with units of the 9th Armored Division made the discovery in the Salman district of al-Qa’im town, located nearly 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad.

The statement added that the depot contained 3,000 bags of urea, each weighing 50 kilograms.

Daesh terrorists would use the chemical agent in order to make improvised explosive devices and booby traps.

Late last month, the Iraqi prime minister formally ordered the launch of operations to purge Daesh terrorists from the towns of Rawah and al-Qa’im.

This picture provided by Arabic-language al-Qurtas News news agency shows Iraqi forces at a major Daesh chemical depot in the Salman district of al-Qa’im town, western Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited the newly-liberated town of Qa'im and the nearby Husaybah border crossing in far western Iraq on November 5, and raised the Iraqi flag at the border crossing.

Meanwhile, an unnamed security source told Arabic-language al-Ghad Press news agency that Iraqi army troops have recovered some 40 tons of munitions belonging to Daesh Takfiris in Ain al-Jahsh region southwest of Mosul.

On July 10, Abadi formally declared victory over Daesh extremists in Mosul, which served as the terrorists’ main urban stronghold in the conflict-ridden Arab country.

In the run-up to Mosul's liberation, Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters had made sweeping gains against Daesh.

The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19.