Heavy shelling by Coalition jets leave 30 IS militants killed in Anbar

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Around thirty Islamic State militants were killed in heavy shelling by U.S.-led Coalition jets that targeted the group’s locations in western Anbar, a security source was quoted saying.

“Coalition jets heavily shelled Qaim, Annah and Rawa in an unprecedented way,” the source told Alghad Press on Monday. “The shelling targeted pivotal IS locations including three rest houses in Qaim.”

“The jets also pounded more than location in Qaim as well as anti-aircraft in al-Ebeidi and another in al-Bayda region,” the source added.

“In Rawa, the shelling targeted al-Qadisiya district and Old Rawa, in addition to a rest house, two checkpoints and a leader’s house. In Annah, heavier shelling occurred, targeting al-Chichan and Dalah districts as well as Jameela region, Hasa village and al-Rayhana region,” the source said, adding that the shelling left more than 30 militants killed and 17 others wounded.

The militants, according to the source, are on high alert. Internet communications are blocked in each of Qaim and Annah.

On Sunday, the militant group reportedly tightened measures on citizens in Qaim, al-Ebeidi town and Okashat region. Curfew has been imposed since the morning. Tens of leaders, who likely ran away from Aiyadhiya and Tal Afar, arrived on Saturday in Qaim.

Last week, the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said the air force bombarded six IS locations in Qaim, killing 94 members, including a senior security commander and a close aide to the group’s supreme leader abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Anbar’s western towns of Anah, Qaim and Rawa are still held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic Caliphate. Iraqi troops were able to return life back to normal in the biggest cities of Anbar including Fallujah, Ramadi and others after recapturing them.

Fighter jets from the Iraqi army and the international coalition regularly pound IS locations in the province.