BAGHDAD (AP) – Officials say clashes between government forces and the Islamic State group in Iraq’s western Anbar province have left 17 troops dead.
A police officer, an army officer and a Sunni tribal fighter say the deadliest of Wednesday’s clashes took place east of IS-held Ramadi, where six soldiers, four Sunni tribal fighters and two policemen were killed. Nine other troops were wounded. All three spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.
They say another five soldiers were killed when IS militants attacked troops in an area near Habbaniyah military base, where dozens of American advisers are stationed. Nine soldiers were wounded.
Iraqi troops backed by Shiite militiamen and Sunni tribal fighters launched an operation to retake Anbar last month.