Soldier killed, civilian wounded in Islamic State suicide attack in Ramadi

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) One soldier was killed and a civilian was wounded when an Islamic State suicide bomber blew himself up near a security checkpoint west of Ramadi, Anbar.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, Saad Maan, said in a statement that the attack targeted a checkpoint at the “7th Kilometer” area.

Islamic State militants, maintaining control over some towns west of Anbar, have waged occasional attacks on civilians and security in the province, and Iraqi and US-led fighter jets respond with airstrikes on the extremist group’s hideouts at that area.

IS is apparently escalating its attacks at other areas outside Mosul, its last major stronghold in Iraq where it has been losing influence and ground since government and popular forces launched a campaign to retake the city last October. Observers believe attacks outside Mosul are designed to lessen security forces pressure there ad divert attention from defeats IS has been sustaining at the city.

The bombing in Anbar comes after a bloody Monday which saw similar attacks that killed dozens of civilians and security personnel in Baghdad and Salahuddin.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said Monday violence in Iraq left 19000 casualties in 2016, but said the count excludes deaths in Anbar during three months of that year.