Airstrike kills 25 militants in Ramadi

Clashes continue to rage in Iraq’s Sunni-dominated Anbar province, as government troops press ahead with their siege of two cities overrun by an al-Qaida-linked group. The Iraqi Defense Ministry says, an airstrike has killed 25 fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. The Iraqi air force struck the operations center for the terror network in the city of Ramadi. Security forces backed by tribal fighters have now regained control in the center of Anbar’s provincial capital, and are also battling for control of Fallujah. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki earlier urged Fallujah residents to expel the militants to avoid an all-out battle in the besieged city. The militants -- who are also involved in the fighting in neighboring Syria -- have held the two cities since last Wednesday.