Over 1,000 displaced civilians flee western regions to Rutba in Anbar
A displaced Iraqi man who fled from clashes, carries children in western Mosul, Iraq, June 3, 2017. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani
Speaking to AlSumaria News, Sobhi al-Kubaisi said, “the local government in Rutba and security services received on Tuesday 1,200 civilians displaced from Annah, Rawa and Qaim towns in western Anbar.”
“Aid was provided to the displaced. Identities of the males and youths were checked to prevent infiltration of IS militants to safe regions in Ramadi and areas in its vicinity,” Kubaisi added.
Rutba is controlled by security troops, however, the town faces IS militants attacks every now and then that are being encountered by security. Tens of displaced civilians arrive daily from western regions to the town. Some have to pay for smugglers in order to flee IS militants.
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.
In late July, a military source was quoted saying that Lt.Gen Abdul-Amir Yarallah, commander of the Nineveh Operations, ordered to besiege IS havens in western Anbar preparing to invade them.