IS militants seize more ground in Iraq's Ramadi

The Islamic State (IS) militant group on Sunday took control of more areas in central the city of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, after heavy clashes with the Iraqi security forces that left dozens, a provincial security source said.

Dozens of IS militants carried out a series of attacks on al-Mal'ab district in central Ramadi, some 110 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, and managed to drive out the security forces and allied Sunni tribal militias, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

During the battles in al-Mal'ab district, several suicide car bombers blew up their explosive-laden cars into the defense lines of the security forces, leaving dozens of dead bodies of the security members and allied Sunni militiamen scattered on the battle ground, the source said.

The battles in the district also resulted in the killing of Major Muthanna al-Mheimeed, chief of the district's police station, in addition to seven police officers and 20 policemen, the source said, adding that the Mheimeed and his police force fought to death in their position.

The IS militants also seized the Iskan district in Ramadi after clashes with the security forces, leaving nine security members and six IS militants killed, the source said.

The fierce battles in the city forced the security forces to retreat to Warrar district in Ramadi, where Anbar Operations Command is located and the vast army's 8th brigade bases in the western part of the city, the source added.

The Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition aircraft have provided air support for the security forces fighting in Ramadi and carried out several airstrikes against IS positions in and out of the city, the source said.

The IS militants launched a series of attacks in Ramadi since Thursday night and managed to seize the district Jamiyah and Albu Alwan in the city. On Friday, the militants expanded in the city and took control of the government compound in central Ramadi.

The militants, on Saturday, continued their push in the city and carried out several attacks, including suicide car bombings, despite the arrival of three brigades to the battleground in Ramadi to support the security forces and allied militias.

The Iraqi aircraft have provided air support for the security forces fighting in Ramadi, as well as the U.S.-led coalition warplanes which carried out several airstrikes against IS positions in and out of Ramadi, the source said.

The IS group has seized most of Iraq's largest province of Anbar and tried to advance toward Baghdad, but several counter attacks by security forces and Shiite militias have pushed them back.

The security situation in Iraq has drastically deteriorated since last June, when bloody clashes broke out between Iraqi security forces and the IS militants. Endit