BAGHDAD

The Iraqi army on Tuesday launched a nationwide military operation against the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group across the country.

A statement by the Defense Ministry's Joint Operations Command said the operation aims to hunt down Daesh/ISIS militants and destroy their hideouts across the country.

It said the offensive is supported by the Iraqi Air Force and the US-led international coalition against Daesh/ISIS.

In 2017, Iraq declared victory over Daesh/ISIS by reclaiming all territories the terrorist group controlled since the summer of 2014, which was estimated to be about a third of the country’s territory.

The group, however, still maintains sleeper cells in large areas in Iraq and occasionally launches sporadic attacks.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara