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24 IS militants killed, security forces free area in Iraq's Anbar

Xinhua, March 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

A total of 24 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Tuesday as Iraqi security forces clashed with the extremist militants and liberated an area near the city of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source said.

The troops and Sunni tribal fighters, backed by Iraqi and U.S.-led aircraft, drove out IS militants from Zankoura area, just northwest of Ramadi, some 110 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The troops raised the Iraqi flag on a building in the area after killing at least 14 IS militants and destroying five of their vehicles, including a booby-trapped one, the source said.

Meanwhile, army helicopter gunships carried out air strikes on IS positions in Zuwiya area in west of Ramadi, leaving three vehicles destroyed and at least 10 militants killed, the source added.

Government troops and allied militias have been fighting for months to retake control of key cities and towns in Anbar, Iraq's largest province, from IS militants, who previously seized most of Anbar and tried to advance toward Baghdad. Endit