Over 40 IS members killed, others wounded in airstrikes in western Anbar

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Over 40 Islamic State militants were killed, while others, including Arabs and foreigners, were wounded in airstrikes that targeted a meeting for the group’s members in west of Anbar, Interior Ministry said.

A statement by the ministry’s intelligence indicated coordination with the Joint Operations Command targeting five IS pivotal locations in west of Anbar. Iraqi fighter jets, “targeted a meeting for IS leaders in al-Jazeera region, Qaim town, leaving 20 militants killed and others injured.”

“An airstrike destroyed a rest house for suicide attackers in Karabla region, Qaim, killing 11 militants and injuring others,” it said. “A booby-trapping workshop of the so-called Baghdad State was destroyed in the region, which was followed by several blasts that occurred due to presence of several booby-trapped vehicles inside. 12 militants were killed, while others, most of whom were Arab and foreigners, were injured.”

In related news, a security source from Anbar said “U.S.-led Coalition jets killed Marawan Mohamed Ali Ismail, a senior IS leader in Qaim and profoundly injured his siblings Saud and Ismail.”

“Marawan is the brother of an IS militant Abdel Mohsen, who is wanted by the U.S. and Iraqi government,” the source told Alghad Press.

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 were able to return life back to normal in the biggest cities of Anbar including Fallujah, Ramadi and others after recapturing them in 2015 and 2016.

Iraqi army announced the total recapture of the town of Annah, hours after recapturing neighboring Rayhana area, earlier this month. Troops also liberated Akashat region, between Rutba town, on borders with Jordan, and Qaim, on borders with Syria.