Claims of Iraqi army advances in Anbar

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Iraqi Cabinet claimed Tuesday that Iraqi forces had reclaimed fresh areas in eastern Anbar province from the Islamic State, killing and wounding 27 militants.
 
“During the launch of an operation in the township of Baghdadi in eastern Anbar, 21 ISIS militants were killed and six others wounded,” said the Cabinet in a Tuesday statement.

It added that Iraqi forces cleared roads stretching from the township of Haditha to Baghdadi, which had been planted by ISIS with landmines in previous battles with the Iraqi army. Al-Assad airbase is located nearby, where US forces have been based.

“The Iraqi forces, including Iraqi security forces and Hashd al-Shaabi militants, liberated Baghdadi from ISIS west of Ramadi,” said the statement. “Bomb disposal teams defused 64 landmines and seized five missiles made by ISIS.”

The statement said ISIS had prepared a vehicle rigged with explosives to target the Iraqi forces, but “the Iraqi forces were able to capture four vehicle bombs before they were detonated.”