Iraqi jets kill 21 Islamic State fighters in airstrikes in Anbar
Iraqi F-16 fighter jets. File photo.
A statement by the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said Iraqi jets launched several airstrikes that left an IS rest house and a weapon stash destroyed.
“The strikes also targeted militants, killing tens of them west of Haditha lake,” the statement added.
Haditha city is fully controlled by security forces and tribal fighters, however, IS launches attacks there every now and then. The regions in the north of the lake are desert ones with a number of houses that are used by IS militants as hideouts.
Ealier on the day, Petra news agency quoted Army Colonel Ahmed al-Shemari as saying that 21 IS fighters were killed as military troops foiled an IS attack against military sites in al-Nakhib region, near the Iraqi-Saudi borders.
Iraqi troops were able to return life back to normal in the biggest cities of Anbar including Fallujah, Ramadi and others after recapturing them. However, Anbar’s western towns of Annah, Qaim and Rawa are still held by the extremist group since 2014, when it emerged to proclaim a self-styled Islamic Caliphate.
Fighter jets from the Iraqi army and the international coalition have also regularly pounded IS locations in the province.