Residents flee as IS seizes 3 Iraqi villages

BAGHDAD: The Islamic State group launched an offensive in Iraq’s western Anbar province on Wednesday, capturing three villages near the provincial capital of Ramadi and forcing villagers to flee from their homes as fierce clashes were underway between the extremists and government troops, residents said.
Wednesday’s fighting could also further threaten Ramadi, 115 km west of Baghdad. The city is mostly held by government forces but militants control some parts of it, mainly on the outskirts.
In a dawn advance, IS extremists seized the villages of Sjariyah, Albu-Ghanim and Soufiya, which had also been under government control till now, the residents said. Fighting was also taking place on the eastern edges of Ramadi, about two km away from local government building.
In Soufiya, the militants bombed a police station and took over a power plant. The residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity fearing for their own safety, said airstrikes were trying to back up Iraqi troops. Iraqi security officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Around noon Wednesday, the militants opened another front with the government troops on three other villages, to the northeast of Ramadi, the residents also said.
An Iraqi intelligence official said the militants were preparing to launch another offensive from the western side of the city, describing the situation as “critical.”
The IS was also trying to take control of the main highway that goes through Ramadi, to cut off supplies, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
Defense Ministry spokesman, Brig. Gen. Tahseen Ibrahim, acknowledged that Islamic State militants “gained a foothold in some areas” in Anbar. But he said reinforcements were dispatched to the province and that US-led coalition airstrikes were supporting the Iraqi forces.