Iraqi security forces foil multiple IS suicide bomb attacks

Iraqi security forces foiled five suicide attacks by Islamic State (IS) militants Wednesday against a military base in Iraq's Anbar, killing three soldiers and wounding eight others, a provincial security source said.

The attack occurred early in the morning when IS militants detonated five suicide car bombs against the base in the town of Rutba, 370 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The troops opened fire against the attackers and detonated four car bombs before reaching their targets, but the fifth suicide bomber managed to approach the entrance of the base and detonated his car bomb, killing three soldiers and wounding eight others, along with the five suicide bombers, the source said.

Rutba, which is located on the Baghdad-Amman international road, was taken over by IS in 2014, and recaptured by security forces in mid-May 2016.

Iraqi security forces and allied paramilitary units have been battling IS militants for months to regain control of territories in northern and western Iraq seized by the IS since June 2014. Endit