Advancing Iraqi Army & Militias Force Daesh to Flee Western Iraq (VIDEO)

The advancing Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Forces forced the Daesh terrorist group to flee from the area around Ar-Rutbah, a strategically important town close to the border with Jordan; officials in Iraq's Anbar province shared exclusive footage with Sputnik.

The Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Forces have managed to take back the town of Ar-Rutbah and surrounding territory in Iraq's western Al Anbar province, security adviser to the governor of Anbar province Dalaf Al-Kubeisy told Sputnik.

"Our forces control the highway from Jordan to Iraq and the Tarbil Border Crossing on the border with Jordan. The entire road will be cleared of mines over the next two days," Al-Kubeisy said.

The security adviser said that specialists will begin operations to clear mines from houses in the region, which is also close to the border with Syria, once security forces have made sure that no terrorists are hiding in the buildings.

"The police will return to Ar-Rutbah at the first opportunity to register returning refugees," he said.

Sputnik received exclusive footage of the "Hawks of Ar-Rutbah" army regiment celebrating and waving the Iraqi national flag following the liberation of the region.

Daesh terrorists fled the area practically without a fight in the face of the advancing army and allied militias. Over the previous week they had attempted to resist the Iraqi advance by carrying out five unsuccessful suicide attacks, but government forces managed to kill all five terrorists before they could execute the bombings. 

The town of Ar-Rutbah was captured by Daesh terrorists in 2014, and occupies a strategic location on the road from Amman to Baghdad, and the Mosul–Haifa oil pipeline. 

The liberation of the Tarbil Border Crossing will allow the Iraqi and Jordanian authorities to reestablish traffic and trade between the two countries.