Islamic State’s mufti in western Anbar town, two others, killed in airstrike
Airstrike by the US-led international coalition aircraft.
“Army jets targeted a hideout for IS in central Rawa, Anbar, which killed the group’s mufti, known as abul Muhajir, an Arab, along with two of his companions,” the source said.
“Abul Muhajir is a prominent IS leader, who is in charge of running the group’s affairs in Rawa,” the source added. “The shelling also destroyed several vehicles destroyed.”
Iraqi joint forces have freed an Islamic State bastion of al-Rummana and areas in its vicinity in west of Anbar, the state-run TV reported earlier on the day. This came after Upper Euphrates and Jazeera Combing Operations launched a wide-scale offensive to liberate al-Rummana and Rawa regions.
Hussein al-Okaidi, mayor of Rawa, said earlier this week that the number of remaining Islamic State militants is estimated at no more than twenty members.
In remarks on Saturday, Okaidi said that operations in Rawa will not launch before three days at least to eradicate the sleeper cells and end the militants presence in al-Rummana village.
Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced on Friday liberation of Qaim in record time. Troops also freed Ebeidi and Krabla regions in western Anbar.
Operations were launched, late October, to liberate Qaim and Rawa towns. Both have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic “Caliphate”.