Iraqi forces recapture western town from ISIS

Middle East, News March 8, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

Iraqi government forces have managed to recapture a town in the conflict-ridden western province of al-Anbar from ISIS militants as they continue to gain more ground in the battle against the extremists.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Iraqi forces liberated the town of Qaryat al-Rashad town, located roughly 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad, on Sunday following intense clashes with ISIS members, Iraq’s al-Sumaria satellite TV network reported.

The source added that tens of ISIS were killed and injured during the operation.

On Saturday, Iraqi security forces backed by volunteer Shia fighters and Sunni tribesmen launched a military operation from four different directions to take back the town of al-Alam in the northern Salahuddin Province from ISIS militants.

The ISIS militants have suffered great losses since the Iraqi army launched its operation to free the strategic city of Tikrit, located 140 km (86 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, on March 2.

Iraqi soldiers, backed by volunteer fighters, retook an airport in the town of al-Dour, located more than 160 kilometers (100 miles) north of Baghdad, on Friday.

ISIS started its campaign of terror in Iraq in early June 2014. The heavily armed terrorists took control of Mosul before sweeping through parts of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland.

Iraqi soldiers, police units, Kurdish forces, Shia volunteers and Sunni tribesmen are engaged in battles with the terrorists to drive them back from the areas under their control.

MP/HJL/SS