100 IS militants in ‘strongest’ U.S.-coalition airstrike in Anbar
US-led coalition aircraft. File photo.
“The airstrike was carried out on the eve of a leaders meeting in a camp. Vacuum bombs were used,” Col. Majid Hamid told the Qatari-based Al-Jazeera network. “The airstrike left more than 100 militants killed and a weapon stash destroyed. The airstrike is the strongest in the province since the Iraqi army recaptured most of the cities in Anbar late 2015.”
“The U.S.-led Coalition shelled on midnight Sunday/Monday a huge IS camp, where tens of militants were gathering. Huge amount of weapons and explosions were inside the camp, located in Ramadi desert, located parallel to al-Tash region,” 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.
The militant group invaded, last week, 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, however, troops were able to repulse the attack. 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.
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.