25 IS militants killed in air strikes in Iraq's Anbar

A total of 25 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Saturday in air strikes by Iraqi aircraft in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source said.

In one attack, the Iraqi warplanes pounded the IS positions in Albu Haiyat area in west of the town of Haditha, leaving 15 IS militants killed, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Separately, at least 10 IS militants were killed when the Iraqi aircraft carried out air strikes on Albu Shejil area in north of the IS-held city of Fallujah, the source said, adding that the air strikes also destroyed two vehicles carrying heavy machine guns.

Also in the province, IS militants pounded Iraqi security forces at a military base in east of Fallujah, killing a soldier and wounding five others, the source said.

Moreover, five soldiers and policemen were wounded in another rockets and mortar barrage by IS militants on the security forces which deployed near al-Falahat area in west of Fallujah, the source added.

On July 13, the Iraqi authorities launched a major offensive against IS militants to free key cities and towns in the largest province of Anbar province from IS militants.

Iraqi security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi paramilitary militias have been fighting for months to retake control of key cities and towns in Anbar province since the IS militants seized most of the province and tried to advance towards capital Baghdad, but several counter attacks by security forces and Shiite militias have pushed them back. Endit