At least a dozen Iraqi soldiers and pro-government fighters have been killed in attacks by Daesh militant group in the country’s violence-plagued western province of Anbar.
Security and medical officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Daesh extremists threw a barrage of mortar shells at positions of the army and those of pro-government fighters outside the city of Haditha, located about 240 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of the capital, Baghdad, on Tuesday.
Shortly afterwards, two bombers and three vehicles rigged with explosives struck the Iraqi forces.
Five soldiers and three pro-government fighters were also wounded in the attacks.
Also on Tuesday, an official in Iraq’s Justice Ministry was killed and his son seriously injured when an improvised explosive device targeted their vehicle in the capital's northern neighborhood of Sha'ab.
Additionally, one civilian lost life and eight others, including two women and four children, sustained injuries when a spate of bombings shook Fallujah, located roughly 69 kilometers (43 miles) west of Baghdad.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. However, Iraqi officials usually blame such assaults on the ISIL terrorists.
Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since ISIL launched an offensive in June 2014, and took control of parts of the Iraqi territory.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq says a total of 1,325 Iraqis, including 585 civilians, were killed and another 1,811 wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in August.
