ISIL Advances in Anbar While Iraqi Forces Try to Repel Attack

ISIL militants launched an offensive Wednesday in Iraq’s western Anbar province located near Ramadi.

Islamic State militants launched an offensive Wednesday in Iraq’s western Anbar province located near Ramadi. The militants captured three villages posing a major threat to the city by the militants to date.

The fighters seized the villages of Sjariyah, Albu-Ghanim and Soufiya, which had also been under government control until now, and residents said they had to escape their homes.

In Soufiya, militants bombed a police station and took over a power plant. Residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said airstrikes were trying to back up the Iraqi troops.

An Iraqi intelligence official said the militants were preparing to launch another attack from the western side of the city, saying that the situation is critical.

ISIL also attempted to take control of the main highway that goes through Ramadi to cut off supplies, the official said.

The governor of Anbar Suhaib al-Rawi said that Baghdad sent military forces to Anbar to strengthen the police forces in Ramadi, in an attempt to drive away ISIL attacks on the city.

The US-led coalition providing support to Iraqi forces said it conducted 16 airstrikes in the Beiji area from Monday to early Wednesday, while other airstrikes targeted areas of Anbar province.