Iraqi forces kill 11 IS militants in western province

Baghdad, Aug 11 (IANS) Iraqi security forces killed 11 Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's western province during an operation, the Iraqi military said on Thursday.

The Iraqi army and paramilitary tribal Sunni fighters advanced into the desert of Anbar province and attacked IS posts located some three kilometres outside the IS-held towns of Aana and Rawa, Xinhua reported.

During the two-day operation, the troops killed a total of 11 militants and captured two others, along with destroying a bomb-making site, car bomb, three booby-trapped motorcycles and detonated 22 roadside bombs.

The operation came as the Iraqi forces, including the predominantly Shiite Hashd Shaabi units and Sunni tribal fighters, are preparing to liberate the IS-held town of Tal Afar, some 70km west of Mosul.

On July 10, Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared Mosul's liberation from IS after nearly nine months of fierce fighting to dislodge the extremist militants from their last major stronghold in Iraq.

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