Coalition jets kill 13 Islamic State members in western Anbar

Annah, Qaim (IraqiNews.com) Fighter jets from the U.S.-led coalition killed 13 Islamic State members in an airstrike that targeted their vehicles at the group’s strongholds in western Anbar, according to an army source.

Ikhnews quoted a military source at the army’s 7th division saying the jets pounded two vehicles and a rest house used by IS at the towns of Annah and Qaim, killing all of the 13 group members on board and at the house.

Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition fighter jets have regularly pounded locations held by the Islamic State at the stronghold towns of Annah, Qaim and Rawa, killing dozens of militants. Thousands of civilians are thought to be held in Islamic State captivity at those locations. It is widely expected that the Iraqi government will launch a major security offensive in Anbar once it is done with its U.S.-backed campaign to drive out IS from Mosul, the group’s principal stronghold in Iraq, which has been running since October 2016. Military officials have been quoted over the past few weeks telling of preparations to invade IS havens in the province.

IS has stepped its attacks against Iraqi border guards at the province’s borders with Syria recently, at one incident killing and wounding 30 servicemen in an ambush earlier this month.