Captain Hussam al-Jubouri from Samarra's Operations Command said the convoy of the volunteer forces – better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi – was heading to launch a search campaign in al-Jazira area near the city of Samarra, located 125 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad, when two roadside bombs struck it.
Jubouri added that eight Hashd al-Sha’abi fighters, including a commander identified as Hussein Attia, were killed while seven others were wounded in the bomb attack, Press TV reported Thursday.
The development came only a day after Hashd al-Sha’abi forces released 30 civilians, who had been besieged by Daesh Takfiri terrorists in a mountainous area in the same Iraqi province.
In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to integrate Hashd al-Sha’abi, which was formed shortly after the emergence of Daesh, into the military.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi stressed on November 5 last year that efforts were underway to find financial sources to support Hashd al-Sha’abi forces.
“Maintaining Hashd al-Sha’abi is one of our most important duties, and I strongly support its presence. There are those who are trying to say that Hashd al-Sha’abi is temporary, but I emphasize that such a force is a necessity,” Abdul-Mahdi said.