Syrian army vehicles seized by Islamic State seen in Anbar

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Syrian army vehicles seized by Islamic State militants during battles with government forces in Syria are now seen in Anbar, a commander at al-Hashd al-Shaabi in the province said Monday.

“Daesh (IS) have brought some Syrian army vehicles to the town of Annah,” said Nazem al-Jugheifi, an intelligence officer at Anbar’s popular mobilization forces. “They seized it after regaining control over the Syrian city of Palmyra,” he said.

“International coalition air forces have pounded some underground tunnels where IS hide those vehicle,”he said.

IS recaptured the historic city of Palmyra after intense battles with the Syrian government army which was backed by intensive strikes from Russian fighter jets a week ago.

IS militants still maintain holdouts at western Anbar regions, most notably at the towns of Annah, Rawa and Qaem, launching from there occasional attacks on civilians and security forces who respond with airstrikes on the group’s locations relying on intelligence tips.

A senior army officer was recently quoted as saying that the group withdrew some of its members from Anbar to joint the Syria front.

Iraqi security forces, assisted by tribal militias and US-led international air forces, have been struggling since October to drive IS militants out of towns they had captured in 2014.