ISIS executioner smoked near Qaim
Qaim (IraqiNews.com) War on ISIS Update: A senior Islamic State security commander was killed on Monday when warplanes pounded group locations in western Anbar, a security source was quoted saying.
Fighter jets from the United States-led coalition killed Hussein Ahmed al-Abdullah, aka Abu Hamza al-Ansari, a Syrian, an an air raid on the town of Qaim, west of Anbar and near the borders with Syria.
According to the source, quoted speaking in a statement reported by SNG website, al-Ansari was an outstanding security commander within IS, and had been involved in the execution and detention of civilians and security members in Waim, Rutba and the Syrian Boukamal city.
War on ISIS Update
Islamic State has lost tens of thousands of local and foreign members in Iraqi, U.S.-backed campaigns since 2016.
Islamic State militants have held the towns of Annah, Rawa and Qaim, on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, since 2014, holding thousands of civilians there. Security reinforcements have reportedly been sent recently near those towns preparing for an attack against the group.
While the Iraqi government said late August that its next target of anti-IS military action was Kirkuk’s Hawija, some officials were quoted saying that parallel operations in western Anbar could also be carried out.
US artillery hits ISIS positions in western Anbar
Annah (IraqiNews.com) Iraq News Today: United States artillery forces bombarded Islamic State militants locations in western Anbar on Monday as military mobilizations signal an imminent offensive targeting the region.
A security source told Alghad Press that U.S. artillery pounded IS locations in Annah, Rawa and Raihaneh, adding that Iraqi security forces were moving towards the latter to recapture it.
“U.S artillery forces are currently stationed near the resistance line in al-Sakra to back up military troops in the liberation of western regions,” the source told the website.
The United States has been leading an international military coalition that backed Iraqi forces in its campaign to recapture Islamic State-held areas since 2014.
Iraq News
On Saturday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued a statement congratulating the nation for the recapture of Akashat region, west of Anbar, in a “snap operation” which he said left hundreds of militants dead.