Iraqi forces retake main gov't buildings from IS in Anbar

The Iraqi security forces on Tuesday freed the government compound of town Heet in Iraq's western province of Anbar from the Islamic State (IS) militants, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

The troops and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal units seized the compound after the extremist militants withdrew from the central part of the town, which located some 160 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The troops raised the Iraqi flag on the main government building in the compound, which also includes buildings of town's police headquarters, court and education directorate, the source said.

However, sporadic clashes continued during the day to clear remaining small pockets of IS militants in the northern and western parts of the town, the source added.

Meanwhile, teams of explosive experts were defusing dozens of roadside bombs and booby-trapped vehicles and buildings set earlier by IS militants aimed at slowing the advance of the troops, the source said.

During the past few days, more than 1,000 families left their homes in Heet and were evacuated to refugee camps in safe areas, the source said.

Last December, the troops recovered Ramadi, the provincial capital of the country's largest province of Anbar .

Iraqi security forces and allied Sunni paramilitary tribal units have been battling IS militants to repossess control of large territories in northern and western Iraq, seized by the IS since June 2014. Endit