21 killed in clashes with IS militants in Iraq

A total of 21 people were killed and 38 others wounded on Saturday in clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's provinces of Salahudin and Anbar, security sources said.

In northern central province of Salahudin, the security forces and allied paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, repelled an attack by dozens of IS militants on the positions of the troops at a village near the city of Samarra, a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The troops killed at least seven IS militants and wounded 20 others, while two security members killed and six others wounded, the source said.

In western province of Anbar, the security forces fought heavy clashes with IS militants at Madhieg area in east of the IS-held city of Ramadi, leaving four IS militants killed, the source said without giving further details.

Meanwhile, an Iraqi air strike hit a 200-meter long tunnel built by the extremist militants to move their car bombs and suicide bombers in Jerieshi area, just north of Ramadi, killing three IS militants and destroying a car bomb inside, the source said.

Also in the province, five soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded when several roadside bombs detonated near their vehicles in Albu Haiyat area in east of the city of Haditha, the source added.

The military operations to free Ramadi and other parts of Anbar from IS extremist militants have been suspended due to heavy rain during past 10 days, at the time the troops were making progress at the edges of the militant-seized Ramadi.

The attacks in Anbar came as Iraqi security forces and allied militias have been fighting for months to retake control of key cities and towns in Iraq's largest province from the extremist IS militants, which seized most of Anbar and tried to advance towards Baghdad. Endit