Iraqi troops kill 19 IS militants in clashes near Baghdad

A total of 19 Islamic State (IS) militants, including 14 attempted suicide bombers, were killed in clashes in west and north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, security sources said on Saturday.

In Iraq's western province of Anbar, the security forces and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal units foiled an attack of IS militants when nine wearing explosive vests tried to infiltrate into the town of Ameriyat al-Fallujah, some 40 km west of Baghdad.

The troops clashed with the nine attackers and killed them all at the edge of the town, a local security source said on condition of anonymity.

Five more IS suicide bombers were killed in clashes with the security forces when they attacked military checkpoints along the main road between Ameriyat al-Fallujah and the adjacent province of Babil in south of Baghdad, the source added.

In Iraq's northern province of Salahudin, two IS vehicles were destroyed overnight when they approached the defensive lines of the security forces near Allas oilfield in east of the provincial capital city of Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad, leaving at least two IS militants killed, a provincial security source said.

Meanwhile, a group of IS militants attacked the positions of the security forces in Fat'ha area, some 50 km north of Tikrit, sparking heavy clashes overnight with the troops, the source said.

Earlier Saturday, the IS militants were forced to withdraw to their hideouts in the nearby Makhoul mountain, leaving at least three militants dead near the positions, the source said, adding that a policeman was killed and four others wounded by the clashes.

Salahudin is a predominantly Sunni Arab province and has witnessed a major offensive during the past months by Iraqi security forces and paramilitary units known as Hashd Shaabi, which managed to regain control of key towns in the province from IS militants.

Iraqi security forces and allied units have been battling IS militants for retaking large territories in northern and western Iraq that was seized by the IS since June 2014.

Source: XINHUA