Forces in Iraq have retaken the town of Qayara from Islamic State, more than a month after retaking a nearby air base.
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Obeidi, one of the last Sunni Cabinet ministers in the majority Shi’ite government, was accused of corruption and ousted by a simple-majority (142-102) no-confidence vote after weeks of political wrangling.
Iraq’s parliament voted to sack its defense minister on Thursday, leaving two of the country’s key security posts empty ahead of an offensive for Mosul, the biggest fight yet against Islamic State militants. He denies the corruption allegations.
In a statement Iraqi defense ministry has said that Warplanes launched airstrikes southeast of Mosul’s Al Hadar district, killing 12 militants and destroying an ammunition depot.
He said that planning the operation to capture Mosul would take some time because the terrorists were certain to use the local civilian population as human shields, so it was imperative to avoid civilian casualties. Qayara is located 70 kilometers (45 miles) south of Mosul.
“I tried to fight corruption in every way but it appears that its lords are stronger and their voices louder”, he said in a statement after the vote.
Abdul-Ghani al-Asadi, the commander of the anti-terrorism agency, earlier said that Iraqi security forces killed about 250 fighters including leaders of different nationalities in the conflict over Qayyarah.
On Aug. 9, the Iraqi parliament voted to strip its speaker and two lawmakers of immunity from prosecution over the corruption allegations revealed by Obeidi, but hours later, the Iraqi judiciary cleared Jubouri of such charges.
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Brett McGurk, the USA envoy to the anti-IS coalition, said this month that the row between Obeidi and Jabouri would not derail the Mosul offensive.
