Two press reports within roughly twenty-five minutes early on 23 August said the Popular Mobilization Forces repelled an Islamic State attack and began a follow-on operation — Shafaq News placing it east of Salah al-Din with a pursuit of the attackers, Kurdistan24 placing it in Khurmatu with a clearing sweep. Neither report identifies the PMF formation involved, casualties, or the size of the force. No PMF or faction channel in the collected material carried the announcement.
- Shafaq News23 Aug, 08:03
“The Popular Mobilization Forces repel an Islamic State attack east of Salah al-Din, and an operation to pursue the attackers begins.”
الحشد الشعبي يصد هجوماً لداعش شرقي صلاح الدين وانطلاق عملية ملاحقة للمهاجمين
- Kurdistan2423 Aug, 08:27
“The Popular Mobilization Forces announce repelling an Islamic State attack and launching a sweeping operation in Khurmatu.”
الحشد الشعبي يعلن صد هجوم لـ داعش وإطلاق عملية تمشيط في خورماتو
a PMF Security Media Cell or brigade-level statement naming the formation, casualty or detainee figures, an Islamic State claim of the initial attack, and any faction channel carrying the sweep as its own — any of these moves this file.