Iraqi security forces on Wednesday retook control of several areas from the Islamic State (IS) militants around the city of Ramadi, the capital of the western province of Anbar, a military spokesman said.
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“The US-led coalition remains committed to working with its Iraqi partners in operations to degrade and destroy Daesh in Anbar province and throughout Iraq”, the statement said.
The USA embassy in Baghdad denied Sunday it has halted military cooperation with Iraqi security forces to fight the Islamic State (IS) militant group which has captured parts of the country’s western province of Anbar.
Hatem al-Gaoud, another clan member reached by phone, said IS had trapped dozens of tribe members in the Khanzir area of Tharthar since the jihadist group launched its major offensive in Iraq a year ago.
With the summer and the holiday season ending, “we believe that this will all come together, and hopefully we’ll see the Iraqis move forward”, Warren said last week.
The UN Mission in Iraq’s human rights office confirmed the mass execution.
In 2014, ISIL fighters killed more than 500 members of the tribe, but its leaders vowed to fight on.
Members of the tribe also helped the US military counter al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to IS, during the so-called “Sunni Awakening” in 2006 and 2007, BBC says.
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Anbar operations spokesman General Yehya Rassoul told the TV the joint operation by Iraqi military, police, tribesmen and Shi’ite volunteers was advancing on the center of Ramadi. “They falsely use the name of Islam to commit atrocities and have once again slaughtered Sunnis, those they claim to be defending”, he said.
