The Islamic State’s control has been reduced to approximately 3 percent of Iraq as the Iraqi Security Forces mount their final offensive on the terror group inside the country.
ISIS is down to approximately 1,500 fighters in the region of Iraq it controls known as Al-Qaim. Al-Qaim is situated in the middle Euphrates River valley near strategic territory for the terrorist group in Syria. The terror group has had a poor showing in battles since the loss of Mosul in late May with stunning victories from U.S. backed forces in Iraq and Syria.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi told ISIS to “choose between death and surrender” in the battle for Al-Qaim.
“The Government of Iraq and the ISF, with the support of the Global Coalition, have liberated more than 4.4 million Iraqis and reclaimed over 47,769 square kilometers, approximately 95% of land once held by Daesh,” U.S. Central Command said in a Thursday statement announcing the offensive on ISIS.
CENTCOM also noted the speed with which ISIS has fallen in Iraq in recent months. The group is so demoralized that hundreds of fighters surrendered to Kurdish forces in early October. The mass surrender of the terrorist group was particularly unusual for ISIS, which has made a point of fighting to the very last man. In many cases the group made the last days of battle painful for the opposing force by deploying waves of suicide bombers.
One fighter told The New York Times that the ISIS governor of the town of Hawija himself gave the order to surrender in mass. “I believe if the governors are telling us to surrender, it really means that this is the end,” he lamented.
U.S. military officials similarly estimate that ISIS controls approximately 5 percent of Syria. Much of this territory falls in the middle Euphrates River valley where U.S. military commanders expect ISIS to make its last stand. ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Bagdadi is also thought to be hiding in the area.
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