ISIS attacks security convoy in Anbar killing 12 soldiers

Iraqi governmental troops managed to prevent an attempt from ISIS extremist militants to infiltrate to Sheikh Ali village, as they managed to kill over 30 elements of extremists. They also managed to open new military corridors towards Nuri Mosque in the old city of Mousl in the framework of the current operations to liberate the Iraqi city from the grip of extremists.

Meanwhile, leader of Anbar’s operations Mahmoud Al Felahi revealed the details of clashes erupted between ISIS extremist militants and Iraqi security forces. He said that the extremists shot a convoy carrying security forces in Sakar road new Rutba, saying that the attack led to the killing of eight elements of the Iraqi forces and the injury of other 12.

In the same context, Sunni tribal forces fighting the Islamic State said Monday they killed two group members while losing two of their members in western Anbar on Monday.

Shaker al-Rishawi, a senior commander of the Tribal Mobilization forces in Anbar, said two tribal fighters and two Islamic State militants died, while two militants of Arab nationalities were arrested during an encounter at the “25th kilometer” region, west of the Rutba region, west of Anbar.

Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition fighter jets have regularly pounded locations held by the Islamic State at the stronghold towns of Annah, Qaim and Rawa, killing dozens of militants. Thousands of civilians are thought to be held in Islamic State captivity at those locations. It is widely expected that the Iraqi government will launch a major security offensive in Anbar once it is done with the campaign to drive out IS from Mosul, the group’s principal stronghold in Iraq.

Islamic State members reportedly killed and wounded 30 Iraqi security members in an ambush near al-Rutba on Sunday. Popular Mobilization Forces said through its media earlier on Monday that the troops killed three Islamic State militants during an encounter at al-Okashat region. Those killed included two Syrian nationals, according to PMU media.

On his hand, leader of Federal Police Shaker Jawdat revealed that they work currently to open new military corridor towards Nuri Mosque still controlled by the extremist elements, saying that the security forces managed to besiege the extremist elements in the right bank of Iraqi city of Mousl. He added that the federal police managed to kill over 34 extremists and destroyed seven bombing equipment.

Iraqi government forces recaptured Tuesday al-Tenek district, a major Islamic State haven in western Mosul, as operations continue to clear the region from militants. The Joint Operations Command said in a brief statement that the army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service entirely liberated the district.

The development comes hours after the JOC said on Monday it had taken over 70 percent of the western side of Mosul. Government troops have been in intense encounters with Islamic State militants in the neighborhood over the past few weeks. Iraqi government forces launched an offensive to retake western Mosul in February, having recaptured the eastern side of the city earlier in January after three months of battles.

Iraqi commanders said earlier this month that Islamic State members were only in control over less than seven percent of territory in Iraq. A U.S.-led coalition backing the Iraqi campaign said there were less than 1000 fighters in the city as the extremist group kept losing several leaders.

Though facing nearly 100.000 government and coalition troops, IS militants proved to be a hard catch due to their deployment in the middle of civilians, a tactic which Iraqi and coalition generals say caused a slowdown in ground progress due to their anxiousness to preserve the safety of citizens who are believed to be used as human shields.

On the political side, Chairperson of Nineveh’s Local Council Bashar Al Kiki said that the Iraqi officials should consider the phase after ISIS not only in Nineveh but also in the whole country. He expressed his optimism over the future of the province. He added that ISIS presence in Mousl posed serious threat against the other provinces of the country.

He added, in press statements, that the province and the country as whole need serious agreement to find solutions for the current challenges facing the country. He warned of the repercussions of ignoring the critical issues threatening the country’s security and stability, saying that such approach could provide the extremists with a rare opportunity to return to the Iraqi cities.