Eight Islamic State members killed in army airstrike, west of Anbar

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Eight Islamic State members were killed in airstrike launched by the Iraqi army, west of Anbar, a security source from the paramilitary forces in the province said on Sunday.
“The army jets shelled a location for Islamic State in al-Ogeirsha region in the desert of Hit town, west of Ramadi, leaving at least eight members killed,” the source told Almaalomah website.

The shelling, according to the source, “targeted Islamic State locations in Anbar’s desert to follow the remnant cells of IS.”

On Friday, the Iraqi military intelligence department announced foiling a terrorist scheme against troops in the desert of Anbar province. On the same day, a paramilitary leader was quoted saying that Iraqi army warplanes killed seven Islamic State militants after bombarding their locations in Wadi Jaal in Hit, west of Anbar.

Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced, in December, full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.