75 ISIS Men Killed as Forces Regain Areas in Iraq’s Ramadi

Troops and allied paramilitary fighters retook control of the area after heavy clashes.

File photo of American and Spanish trainers using live ammunition in training exercises in Baghdad, Iraq. (Photo: AP)

At least 75 ISIS militants were killed on Monday as Iraqi security forces recaptured two areas east of Ramadi, the capital city of Iraq’s western Anbar province, a provincial security source said.

The troops and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters rushed into the Huseiba al-Sharqiya area and retook control after heavy clashes with ISIS militants. The fighting left some 43 militants killed, including five suicide bombers. Seven of the extremist militants were captured alive, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Four security members were also killed in the clashes and 12 others wounded, said the source.

The clashes resulted in the killing of at least 25 ISIS militants and the destruction of six of their vehicles. Eight security members were killed and five others were injured, the source said.

The latest extension of the security forces in Ramadi came as the troops continued their clearing operations in the eastern part of the city. The extremist militants planted bombs densely in buildings, whilst clashes continued against small groups of ISIS militants who were using the buildings as hideouts, the source said.

Security forces captured downtown Ramadi from the ISIS group late last year, raising the Iraqi flag on the government complex there. But small parts of the city have not yet been fully secured due to a large numbers of bombs planted by ISIS.