Dozens of Islamic State members killed in western Anbar raid

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Dozens of Islamic State militants were killed Monday when amy warplanes targeted militants’ gatherings in western Anbar, security sources were quoted saying.

Iraqi Media News Agency quoted the sources saying that army jets bombarded Wadi al-Qathef region when tens of group members were rallying preparing for an attack on army forces. They said the raid left dozens of militants dead, including foreign nationals.

Since Islamic State militants took over large areas of Iraq and Syria to estalbish 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.

The only regions that currently remain under Islamic State’s territorial influence are Anbar’s towns of Rawa and Qaim. Reports are telling of running preparations for invading the two regions. If recaptured, that will mark a practical end to Islamic State’s control in Iraq.

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.