BAGHDAD (Sputnik) – The Iraqi armed forces have killed 15 members of the Islamic State jihadist group (ISIL or Daesh in Arabic) in two of the country’s central provinces, the Iraqi military command press office told Sputnik on Thursday.
At least 12 terrorists were killed in Anbar, where a large-scale campaign to retake the capital city of Ramadi is underway. The Iraqi troops defused 23 pipe bombs and 14 barrel bombs, while the Iraqi air force destroyed two armored vehicles and an underground tunnel in the Ramadi district of Albu Faraj.
Two servicemen were wounded in the operation.
In western Iraq, government forces opened fire at two trucks laden with explosive devices before the vehicles were able to reach their destination and detonate the devices.
Backed by the state-sponsored Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces, the Iraqi troops uncovered a terrorist hideout with bomb making material and other explosive devices near the Tigris river.
Up to 10,000 Iraqi security forces are estimated to be taking part in the offensive to reclaim Ramadi.