Two border troops personnel killed, three others injured, western Anbar

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Two border troops personnel were killed, while three others were injured as Islamic State militants targeted their patrol, 70 kilometers west of Rutba district, western Anbar on the borders between Iraq and Jordan, a source said.

“IS members targeted the security troops patrol, 70 kilometers west of Rutba, leaving two border troops personnel killed and three others severely wounded,” a security source from Anbar Operations Command told AlJournal News on Tuesday.

“Other troops headed to the accident spot to support the rest of personnel, who are still battling against IS,” the source added.

Earlier this month, news reports said ten Iraqi army soldiers were killed and six were wounded when Islamic State militants attacked an army command facility in western Anbar.

Hundreds of civilians and security agents were executed by the extremist group which emerged in 2014 to proclaim a self-styled Islamic Caliphate.

IS still holds three towns in western Anbar close to the borders with Syria, in addition to a few areas in Salahuddin, Diyala and Kirkuk. The Iraqi government is expected to aim at those strongholds once the Mosul battle is concluded.

Fighter jets from the Iraqi army and the international coalition have also regularly pounded IS locations in the province.