Seven militants, including Arabs, killed in military operation, western Anbar

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Seven Islamic State militants, including Arabs, were killed and a mobile telecommunications facility was destroyed in a military operation, southeast of Rutba district, Anbar province, a military source said.

“Security troops from Anbar and Jazeera commands as well as the 7th division carried out a military operation in Makr al-Deeb region, southeast of Rutba in the west of Anbar,” the source from Anbar Operations Command told AlJournal News on Wednesday. “Seven militants, including an Egyptian and Saudi nationals, were killed, while a mobile telecommunications facility, which was used for internet connection between Raqqa in Syria and Anbar towns of Qaim, Rawa and Annah, was destroyed.”

Moreover, “A truck and three other vehicles loaded with amounts of fuel and ammunition were destroyed. An underground shelter, used by the militants to hide from the jet fighters, was blown up,” the source added.

Anbar’s western towns of Annah, Qaim and Rawa, which are close to the borders with Syria, have been 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. The Iraqi government is expected to aim at those strongholds once the Mosul battle is concluded.