by WorldTribune Staff, September 26, 2016
After liberating the city of Sharqat from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), Iraqi security forces captured the terror group’s Wali (governor) of the city as he tried to hide among displaced residents while disguised as a woman.
Abu Omar al-Assafi was “in a woman’s dress” when he was detained by Iraqi forces, local media reported.
“The forces also seized possessions belonging to the ISIL leader, including a USB flash drive containing files and information regarding the members of the terror group, their real names and nicknames and areas of their residence and their ranks in the group,” the reports said.
“The USB drive also contained documents and instructions, asking the ISIL militants to burn and detonate the houses of civilians and show that the Iraqi security forces have carried out the sabotage.”
Sharqat was liberated from ISIL on Sept. 15. Iraq’s military said its forces managed to free the city within 72 hours of launching the operation drive out the terror group. Sharqat was a key win for Iraq and it prepares for the coming offensive on Mosul, ISIL’s main stronghold in the country.
Backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and its Kurdish allies on the ground, Iraq is currently engaged in operations aimed at reopening key supply lines needed for the battle to retake Mosul.