Baghdad: At least 25 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Saturday in air strikes by Iraqi aircraft in Iraq's western province of Anbar, the media reported. In one attack, the Iraqi warplanes pounded the IS positions in Albu Haiyat area west of the town of Haditha, leaving 15 IS militants dead, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Separately, at least 10 IS militants were killed when Iraqi aircraft carried out air strikes on Albu Shejil area in north of the IS-held city of Fallujah, the source said, adding that the air strikes also destroyed two vehicles carrying heavy machine guns. On July 13, the Iraqi authorities launched a major offensive against IS militants to free key cities and towns in the largest province of Anbar from IS militants.

Iraqi security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi paramilitary militias have been fighting for months to retake control of key cities and towns in Anbar province since the IS militants seized most of the province and tried to advance towards capital Baghdad, but several counter attacks by security forces and Shiite militias have pushed them back.

(IANS)