The forces serving in the Hashd al-Shaabi (aka Popular Mobilization Units) launched the massive mopping-up operation in Kirkuk on Tuesday morning.
The operation is aimed at cleansing Kirkuk province’s southeastern parts of remaining terrorists.
The Iraqi forces are conducting the operation in six separate directions.
In January, the Iraqi military forces launched a large operation to clear remaining pockets of the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group around the northern city of Kirkuk.
Survivors of Daesh continue to carry out sporadic terrorist attacks in Iraq, although the self-proclaimed caliphate of the terrorist group fell in November 2017.
Daesh seized control of large parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014, declaring a cross-border caliphate and committing widespread atrocities.
Iraqi forces gradually retook control of all territory lost to the group over the last three years.