Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (var. Hashd Al-Sha’abi) began targeting the Islamic State’s positions inside Syria on Friday, December 28, Al-Masdar News reports.

According to a military source in eastern Syria, the Popular Mobilization Units hammered the Islamic State’s positions at the contested towns of Baghouz Fouqani and Baghouz Tahtani, scoring several direct hits on the militant defenses.

The Iraqi forces used a plethora of artillery shells and missiles to weaken the Islamic State’s resolve, as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) push further south along the Euphrates River.

The strikes by the Iraqi forces have helped keep up the pressure on the Islamic State militants that are still entrenched inside the Euphrates River Valley.