24 killed in Iraq fighting

Baghdad: At least 24 people were killed and 29 wounded on Saturday in bomb attacks and clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's western province of Anbar, media reported. In one attack, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden military vehicle near the security forces and allied militias, known as Hashd Shaabi, in east of the IS-held city of Fallujah leaving six security members dead and nine wounded, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, troops fought fierce battles with IS militants in Huseiba al-Sharqiyah area in east of Ramadi killing five militants and destroying one of their vehicles, the source said.

Four policemen were killed and nine wounded in clashes with IS militants in Falahat area, just west of Fallujah, the source said without giving further details. Moreover, a policeman was killed and five wounded in an IS mortar barrage on a police station in Habbaniyah area, some 80 km west of Baghdad, the source added. Separately, three border guard officers and five guards were killed and six wounded when two roadside bombs went off near a convoy of army vehicles at Trebil border crossing with Jordan which is located in a remote area of Anbar province's desert area, the source said, adding that the blasts also destroyed two military vehicles.

(IANS)