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Anbar Antix
 Iraqi regulars launch new offensive in western Anbar Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi joint troops have started on Tuesday an offensive to liberate Islamic State’s havens in west of Anbar, the military media said. Al-Jazeera troops, backed by the Tribal Mobilization Forces launched wide-scale campaign to liberate al-Rayhana region as well as Annah town from IS, according to the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell. Meanwhile, Alghad Press reported that the militant group prevented civilians from fleeing toward the western side of the town, forcing them to stay at homes. However, the website’s correspondent said the troops are cautious in order not to harm civilians. Moreover, a security source was quoted saying that the militants “completely evacuated Rayhana. Army forces started purging the road leading to Annah from planted landmines.” “Troops are advancing toward Rayhana amid heavy shelling and air raids by the U.S.-led Coalition,” the source said. Iraqi joint troops managed earlier this week to liberate Akashat region, between Rutba town, on borders with Jordan, and Qaim, on borders with Syria. Anbar’s western towns of Anah, Qaim and Rawa are still held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic Caliphate. Iraqi troops were able to return life back to normal in the biggest cities of Anbar including Fallujah, Ramadi and others after recapturing them. Fighter jets from the Iraqi army and the international coalition regularly pound IS locations in the province. Iraqi troops capture Rayhana district Annah (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Army/ Iraqi government troops and paramilitary forces managed Tuesday to recapture the first area as part of an operation targeting Islamic State-held towns in western Anbar, a local official said. Abdul-Karim al-Aani, chairman of Annah town’s council, told Alsumaria News that army and police troops, backed by Popular Mobilization Forces, took over Rayhana region, east of Annah, and raised Iraqi flags above its buildings. He said a number of Islamic State militants were killed, while a booby-trapped vehicle belonging to them was detonated. Iraqi Army Earlier on Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the launch of an operation to clear Islamic State havens in western Anbar, starting with the town of Annah. He promised “a new victory”, adding that IS “will not reap but a humiliating defeat and death”. Iraqi troops smoke 20 ISIS Bad Guys Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) More than twenty Islamic State militants were killed within offensives launched in the group’s holdout in western Anbar, military media reported on Tuesday. In a press release, the War Media Cell said on Tuesday that “the most important outcome of liberation of al-Rayhana and Annah was the murder of twenty-two militants as well as destruction of weapon stash and four booby-trapped vehicles.” Iraqi government troops and paramilitary forces managed Tuesday to recapture Rayhana region as part of an operation, launched earlier on the day, targeting the region as well as Annah town, in western Anbar. Posted by: badanov 2017-09-20 |
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