Security forces retake areas in IS-held Ramadi, 54 killed in battles with IS in Iraq

Iraqi security forces on Monday fought fierce clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants and retook control of two areas in and near the IS-held city of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, while a total of 54 people were killed in clashes with IS militants in Anbar and Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, security sources said.

In Iraq's western province of Anbar, the security forces and allied paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, made an advance in southwest of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, and managed to seize the railway station and the southern part of adjacent Khamsa Kilo suburb, a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The fierce battle resulted in the killing of 22 IS militants and four security members, while at least six IS vehicles were destroyed, the source said, citing initial reports.

Meanwhile, the troops retook control of the Justice Palace compound in northern Ramadi after heavy bombardment by artillery and Iraqi aircraft, which forced IS militants to withdraw, paving the way for the troops to advance at the site, the source said.

The compound includes main judicial institutions of the province and a prison.

At least 15 IS militants and seven security members were killed by the clashes, the source added.

Also in Ramadi, the troops foiled the attacks of two suicide car bombs in Zaytoun district, just west of Ramadi, after the soldiers blew them up by anti-tank guided missiles before they reached their targets at the military positions, the source said.

During the past few weeks, the troops and allied Hashd Shaabi units recaptured several areas at the edges of Ramadi as part of their offensive to surround the city and clear it later from IS militants.

The military operations in Anbar province 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 toward Baghdad.

In Salahudin province, IS militants in the morning carried out an attack on the security forces at Mak'houl mountain in north of the oil refinery town of Baiji, some 200 km north of the Iraq capital of Baghdad, and the attackers managed to seize part of the mountain and the nearby abandoned fertilizer plant, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

So far, at least six paramilitary members were killed and 15 others wounded, the source said, adding that Iraqi aircraft participated in battles against IS militants, while reinforcement Hashd Shaabi paramilitary fighters arrived later in the day to the scene where heavy clashes continued to clear the area from IS militants.

The attacks in Salahudin province came as the security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi militias have been pushing on toward IS stronghold in the city of Shirqat, some 280 km north of Baghdad, and the town of Hawijah, some 90 km west of the northern city of Kirkuk, to free them from the extremist militants.

It also came as part of the second phase of major offensive announced earlier in the month by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is also Commander-in-chief of Iraqi armed forces, aimed at freeing towns seized by the IS group since June 2014 in the northern part of Salahudin province.

Earlier, the troops retook control of Iraq's largest oil refinery near Baiji and the town of Seiniyah, some 10 km west of Baiji.

Iraq has been witnessing some of the worst violence in years. Terrorism and violence have left at least 12,282 civilians killed and 23,126 others injured in 2014, making it the deadliest year since the sectarian violence in the 2006-2007 period, according to a recent UN report. Endit