IS kills escaping family, militants killed in Coalition airstrikes in Anbar
Displaced families. File photo.
“IS militants killed in the evening a family which tried escaping in the desert of Qaim,” the source told Alghad Press.
The militant group, according to the source, “previously threatened people against escaping or they would be killed along with their families.”
In related news, five militants were killed, while an explosive workshop was destroyed in an airstrike in Qaim.
“U.S.-led Coalition jets pounded IS locations in Qaim,” the source said. “The shelling left five IS militants, including a security chief, and an explosive workshop destroyed.”
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.