(FNA) -- The Iraqi forces engaged in fierce clashes with ISIS South of al-Ba’aj region, and recaptured the village of al-Khibra.

Later on, the Iraqi contingents took control of the nearby al-Sakaar housing complex, killing and wounding a number of terrorists.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Iraqi Popular forces announced that his forces would start operations to secure the entire border with Syria; if successful, this major military endeavor would cut the regional caliphate in half and significantly hamper its logistics and maneuverability.

In addition, Commander of the Popular Forces Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes announced that the forces would handover the entire border region to Syrian and Iraqi border guards once retaken.

Field sources reported on Wednesday that the Hashd al-Shaabi (Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces) was ready to fight against ISIS along with the Syrian Army troops to free the strategic al-Tanf border-crossing.

The sources said that following deployment of forces at borders with Syria the Hashd al-Shaabi was coordinating with the Syrian army to jointly storm ISIS and free al-Tanf border town and region.

The sources further said that the army soldiers engaged in tough battle with terrorists in Syria's Badiyeh (desert) towards South to recapture the al-Tanf border-crossing, adding Hasha al-Shaabi tried to go through the army-held regions in Syria to move towards North and open a way to al-Tanf.