Twenty IS militants killed in coalition airstrikes in western Ramadi
Coalition aircraft while conducting airstrikes against IS in Iraq
“The U.S.-led coalition jets shelled IS militants gathering in western Ramadi desert,” Major General Mahmoud al-Falahi, commander of Anbar Operations, told AlSumaria News on Thursday.
“The shelling left twenty IS militants killed,” he added.
Ramadi was recaptured by government and tribal forces from IS in December 2015, however, several occasional attacks by the group have occurred since then.
Early on Wednesday, the militant group invaded al-Tash and the 5th Kilometer regions, south and west of Ramadi. The militants reportedly took over al-Tash and al-Jamea (university) areas after invading them with 20 pickup trucks. 40 IS militants were killed, while three injured others were wounded, Brig. Gen. Saad Maan, spokesperson of Baghdad Operations said in a weekly press conference on Thursday.
Anbar’s western towns of Qaim and Rawa have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic “Caliphate”. Iraqi troops managed to retake Annah town and Akashat region last week and are currently preparing for another offensive to retake Rawa. Another offensive is taking place to recapture Hawija, the group’s stronghold in southwestern Kirkuk.