Iraqi forces kill 44 IS militants in offensive in Anbar

A total of 44 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed Saturday in airstrikes and clashes with Iraqi security forces in Anbar, a provincial security source said.

The Iraqi security forces have liberated two areas near the city of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's western province of Anbar.

The troops and Sunni tribal fighters, backed by Iraqi and U.S.-led aircraft, drove out IS militants from Abu Teiban and al-Safiriyah, just west 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 at the scene after killing at least 24 IS militants and destroying six of their vehicles, the source said.

The clashes in the two areas also left eight security members dead and five others wounded, the source added.

Meanwhile, an IS sniper shot dead Major Zana Khalil, commander of an army regiment, in Albu De'ij area in south of the militant-seized city of Fallujah, some 50 km west of Baghdad, the source said.

Separately, U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi aircraft bombarded a convoy of four vehicles carrying IS militants near the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of Baghdad, destroying the four vehicles and killing at least 14 militants aboard, the source added.

Moreover, Iraqi warplanes bombarded an IS headquarters in the IS-held town of Heet, some 160 km west of Baghdad, killing six militants and wounding four others, he said citing intelligence reports.

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. Endite