14 IS militants killed in clashes, air strike in Iraq's Anbar

Up to 14 members of Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Monday in an air strike and clashes with the Iraqi security forces in the country's largest province of Anbar, a provincial security source said.

The clashes erupted in the early morning when dozens of IS militants attacked the troops and allied militias, known as Hashd Shaabi, stationed in compound of Fallujah University, just south of the IS-held city of Fallujah, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The troops repelled the IS attack after the Iraqi aircraft carried out an air strike on the IS positions and their vehicles outside the compound, the source said.

The battle and the air strike killed a total of 14 extremist militants and wounded nine security members and militiamen , the source added.

Iraqi security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi paramilitary militias have been fighting for months to retake control of key cities and towns in Anbar from IS militants, which seized most of Anbar and tried to advance towards Baghdad. Endit