Ten IS militants killed in coalition airstrike, west of Anbar
International coalition aircraft. File photo.
Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Ten Islamic State militants were killed, while seven booby-trapped vehicles were destroyed in an airstrikes, west of Anbar, according to Jazeera Operations Command.
Speaking to Alghad Press on Saturday, the command said, “the U.S.-led coalition launched an airstrike, targeting an IS haven, which left seven booby-trapped vehicles destroyed and ten militants killed in Rawa, western Anbar.”
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”.
On Friday, the War Media Cell said the Iraqi military command urged residents in Qaim to be prepared for imminent operations to retake their region from militants. On Thursday, the Iraqi army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service distributed flyers in Qaim urging Islamic State militants to surrender better than having the same destiny of other militants in liberated regions. It also urged people to stay away from the militants in order not to be used as human shields, and to remember their hideouts so troops could follow them after the town is liberated.
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. In late September, Iraqi army announced the total recapture of Annah. Troops also liberated Akashat region, between Rutba town, on borders with Jordan, and Qaim, on borders with Syria.