At least 15 IS militants killed in U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in western Iraq

At least 15 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed, including senior members, in U.S.-led coalition airstrikes near the Iraqi border with Syria in the country's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source said on Thursday.

The coalition warplanes acted on intelligence reports and struck positions where senior IS militants were believed to have been gathering in and near the town of al-Qaim, some 330 northwest of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

More than 30 IS civilians and militants were also wounded in the airstrikes, the source said, adding that the bodies and the wounded were evacuated to the hospitals and medical centers in al-Qaim and the town of Albu-Kamal on the Syrian side of the border.

"Many of the killed were senior leaders of the extremist militants, including Abu Muslim al-Shishani and Abu Obaida al-Azzawi, who is Wali, or governor of Euphrates areas, in addition to some foreign (non Arab) leaders" the source said.

After the attacks, the IS militants imposed curfew on the town of al-Qaim, and prevent the residents from opening their doors and windows, the source added.

The United States built an international coalition, including countries from in and outside the Middle East, to push back IS expansion, carrying out airstrikes against the armed Islamist group in both Iraq and Syria. Endit