Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Thirteen Islamic State militants were killed in a security operation that was targeted al-Sahla valley, southeast of Rutba, western Anbar, a tribal official said on Thursday.
‘Security troops destroyed three IS rest houses, exploded a weapon-laden truck and filled a water well and trenches dug by the group,” Col. Lawrance al-Eissawi, commander in the Tribal Mobilization Forces in Anbar, told BasNews.
“Iraqi troops confiscated a rocket launcher, destroyed 22 bombs and 16 landmines,” Eissawi said, adding that the forces also targeted a locally-manufactured telecommunications tower in al-Suhaila region.
Military operations are still ongoing in the western desert of Anbar, Eissawi added.
On Wednesday, news reports said 13 militants were killed as army airstrike shelled IS members gathering in Rawa and Qaim towns, western Anbar.
Earlier this week, Sputnik news agency quoted local and security sources as saying that the group gathered the militants at the 25 KM region, west of Rutba, located western Anbar, to attack Iraqi common borders with Syria and Jordan.
Lt.Gen Abdul-Amir Yarallah, commander of the Nineveh Operation, ordered to besiege IS havens in western Anbar preparing to invade them, a military source said last week.
Iraqi fighter jets reportedly dropped millions of leaflets informing locals that liberation offensives for the province were nearing.