Shafaq News / The Joint Operations Command announced Monday morning launching "Desert Lions" operations to search large areas in Al-Anbar Governorate in western Iraq, up to the international borders.

The operations said in a statement today that the areas to be inspected are: (Wadi Houran, Husayniyyat al-Karah , Wadi al-Halkum, all the way to the international borders).

The statement pointed out that the leaders of Anbar operations , Al-Jazeera operations and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) west of Anbar and the tribal forces have participated in nine axes to support the army and air force.

The statement added that this process comes to enhance security and stability in these areas, to pursue terrorist elements and to arrest those wanted.

The statement noted that Hadithah Brigade had managed to kill three ISIS leaders in Al-Medham area, and detonated a vehicle carrying explosive devices as part of the operation.

It is noteworthy that ISIS recently stepped up its attacks against the security forces and PMF in the areas that were under its control after 2014, in a noticeable decline in the security situation in those areas.