Ramadi, April 13 (IANS) Iraqi security forces on Tuesday fought fierce clashes against the Islamic State (IS) terrorists and made new gains in the battleground town of Heet in Iraq's western province of Anbar.
Security forces and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters continued their offensive campaign aiming to drive out the IS terrorists from the town of Heet, 160 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The troops, backed by the US-led coalition aircraft, retook control of the districts of Zuhour, Qadsiyah and Shuhadaa in the western part of Heet after fierce house-to-house battle, leaving 35 IS terrorists killed and many of heir vehicles destroyed, the source said.
Eight security members were also killed and five others wounded in the battle, the source added.
In the last few days, troops have slowed their advance into the town of Heet in order to give thousands of civilians trapped in the town an opportunity to flee their homes.
