Small Wars Journal

Islamic State Fighters Attack Iraqi Forces in Ramadi

Wed, 09/27/2017 - 8:40am

Islamic State Fighters Attack Iraqi Forces in Ramadi by Ghassan Adnan and Isabel Coles – Wall Street Journal

Islamic State militants attacked the western Iraqi city of Ramadi on three fronts Wednesday, clashing with security forces even as Iraq’s army routs the terror group from its few remaining strongholds in the country.

The attack comes as Iraqi forces wage dual offensives to recapture western Anbar province, of which Ramadi is the capital, and the Hawija pocket in the country’s north—the last two major areas held by Islamic State, which seized around one-third of the country in a 2014 blitz.

Security officials in Ramadi said the insurgents had tricked Iraqi forces by pretending to be tribal fighters, enabling them to infiltrate parts of the city, some 55 miles west of Baghdad.

Civilians fled parts of western Ramadi after militants took over several buildings there and clashed with security forces, said police colonel Adel al-Alwani.

At least 13 Islamic State fighters, including suicide bombers, were killed in clashes with security forces in the Majar area south of the city, said local official Ali Dawood. A photograph from clashes in a neighboring area showed members of Iraq’s security forces pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with the dead bodies of at least two insurgents.

A total of 58 militants were killed in the clashes, according to the Anbar police directorate…

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