Shafaq News / Police and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have launched operations to chase ISIS elements in the vicinity of Khanaqin district, (105 km northeast of Baquba, capital of Iraq's Diyala Governorate ) , a security source said on Wednesday.

Khanaqin police, the army and PMF Brigades have launched a raid and search in a number of villages in Khanaqin district to search for ISIS remnants, the source told Shafaq News Agency.

He added that the aim of the operations is to clear Khanaqin surrounding and its agricultural villages from terrorist hotbeds and dens that threaten the security of citizens, security sectors and PMF.

Outskirts of Khanaqin have been subjected during the past months to different attacks by roadside bombs that have caused civilian and security elements casualties, as specialists attributed the reasons of the attacks to the infiltration of terrorists fleeing from other provinces to the outskirts of Khanaqin.

Khanaqin is witnessing a clear increase in the rates of security breaches, especially after the withdrawal of Peshmerga forces in autumn of 2017.

ISIS terror group has increased its attacks in Iraq, especially in rural areas, amid political instability and security weakness in the country as well as the US-led coalition forces' withdrawal due to the coronavirus outbreak.

While ISIS has been trying to strengthen its operational capability in rural areas since mass protests against Iraqi government erupted in October in the capital Baghdad and southern provinces.