Iraqi forces repel IS attack, as battles continued in IS stronghold in Fallujah

Iraqi security forces on Monday repelled attacks by Islamic State (IS) militants on military positions in north of the city of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's western province of Anbar, while battles to push into the IS stronghold in Fallujah continued in southern the city, a provincial security source said.

In the early morning, dozens of IS militants with four suicide car bombs attacked the positions of Iraqi army and allied Sunni paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, in Jeraishi area in north of Ramadi, some 110 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The troops fought fierce clashes with the attackers who were forced to withdraw from the battleground after the troops destroyed the four suicide car bombs with anti-tank guided missiles before reaching the first defensive lines, the source said without giving further details about casualties among the IS attackers and the security members.

Meanwhile, heavy clashes continued in southern the IS-held city of Fallujah, some 50 km west of Baghdad, as the troops have been pressing to widen their foothold in Shuhada district after they made their first advance on Wednesday in the district and raised the Iraqi flag over some of its buildings, the source said.

During the day, U.S.-led coalition warplanes bombarded IS positions near al-Shemary mosque in Shuhada district in southern Fallujah, leaving at least eight militants killed and 14 others wounded, the source added.

The advance in southern Fallujah was slowed by IS militants resistance inside the city, with hundreds of hidden bombs believed to be planted by them.

The security forces are also avoiding heavy casualties among tens of thousands of civilians who are reportedly trapped inside Fallujah.

About 50,000 to 70,000 civilians are expected to remain in Fallujah Earlier, said Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul, spokesman for the Joint Military Command.

Early in the month, the UN children fund warned that at least 20,000 Iraqi children remained trapped in Fallujah where Iraqi security forces are fighting to drive out the extremist IS militants from the city.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on May 23 the launch of a major offensive to claim Fallujah and surrounding towns and areas.

Government troops and allied militias have currently been fighting for months to reclaim key cities and towns in Anbar from IS militants, who attempted to advance toward Baghdad after seizing most of Anbar province.

Iraq has been witnessing a wave of violence since the IS controlled parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014. Endit