Iraqi security forces repel IS attack in Anbar

Iraqi security forces backed by U.S.-led coalition aircraft on Saturday repelled an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants with three suicide truck bombs near the city of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source said.

The troops fought back the attackers and destroyed two truck bombs with anti-tank guided missiles before reaching their target at a military base in Nadhem al-Tharthar area in northeast of Ramadi, which is located some 110 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Aircraft of the U.S.-led coalition pounded the IS militants and destroyed the third suicide truck bomb at the desert area outside the military base, the source said, adding that seven security members were wounded by the clashes with the IS militants, while at least four IS militants were killed in addition to the three suicide bombers.

Government troops and allied militias have been fighting for months now in order to regain control of key cities from IS militants in the towns in Anbar, Iraq's largest province, as IS militants had previously seized most of Anbar and attempted to advance towards Baghdad.

Iraq is currently witnessing a massive wave of violence since the IS gained control of sections of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014, when surprisingly Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and posts and fled. Endit