7 killed in Baghdad suburb despite anti-Daesh sweep

Overnight attacks target homes of tribal fighters allied with Hashd Al-Shaabi

Seven people have been killed in three attacks in the northern outskirts of the Iraqi capital, security sources said on Sunday, despite the army recently declaring the area swept of militants.

The overnight attacks on Saturday into Sunday targeted the homes of tribal fighters belonging to the powerful Hashd Al-Shaabi paramilitary force, as well as army barracks, in the suburb of Tarmiya, the sources said. The Tribal Hashd is composed largely of Sunni fighters and feeds into the broader Shiite-dominated Hashd Al-Shaabi, which fought back Daesh with Iraqi troops. Tarmiya has long been a bastion of extremist groups and Daesh sleeper cells have continued to operate in the area, according to the security sources.

“Unidentified gunmen attacked the home of a member of the Tribal Hashd, killing him, his wife, his son and mother,” a police officer told AFP, asking to remain anonymous.

The officer said a separate attack overnight saw sniper fire hit an army barracks, killing two members of the security forces. And at dawn on Sunday, another attack targeted a Tribal Hashd member’s home, killing one, he added.

On Sunday afternoon, security forces announced they had killed one would-be suicide bomber in a village in the Tarmiya region.

For weeks this summer, Iraqi forces — the army, police and the Hashd — combed the orchards around Tarmiya for Daesh sleeper cells.

In July, they declared the operation a success after arresting several alleged Daesh members. Daesh overran large parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014, declaring a “caliphate” in areas they controlled.

Iraq in late 2017 declared victory against Daesh but the group’s disparate network of undercover fighters still carries out deadly attacks across the country.