Security commanders convene, discuss attack on last IS havens in Anbar

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi security commanders in Anbar convened Wednesday to lay down plans for invading Islamic State’s last havens in Anbar and Iraq, a security source was quoted saying.

Iraqi news website SNG quoted the source saying that the meeting was held in Ain al-Assad military air base in Anbar. It was attended by assistant head of the Joint Operations Comman, Hamed al-Obaidi, and commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Anbar, Rachid Fleih.

Attendants discussed plans for invading the towns of Rawa and Qaim.

The source said government and paramilitary troops in the province have already cut off supply routes to the militants in the two towns.

Since Islamic State militants took over large areas of Iraq and Syria to establish a self-styled “caliphate” in 2014, Iraqi government forces, backed paramilitary troops and U.S.-led coalition, launched a wide-scale campaign to retake those regions.

So far, the offensives managed to retake Mosul, the group’s former capital, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija and Anbar’s Annah. Only Qaim and neighboring Rawa currently remain in IS grip.

Local authorities and human rights agencies believe Islamic State members are holding tens of thousands of civilians in western Anbar as future human shields, having killed hundreds for attempting to escape.

On field, Alghad Press website quoted security sources saying that warplanes from the U.S.-led coalition pounded Islamic State members in Qaim while setting up barricades preparing for an attack on security forces. The air strike killed 10 militants and destroyed a shovel and two trucks.