Iraqi security forces and allied tribal fighters repelled attacks by militants of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group in two towns in the western province of Anbar, leaving more than 32 militants dead, security sources said Wednesday.
In one of the attacks, IS militants carried out an attack in the early hours of the day on the town of Ameriyat al-Fallujah, some 40 km west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, but were repelled by Iraqi security forces and allied local Sunni tribesmen, a source from Anbar provincial operations command, told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The militants tried to enter the town, which has been under the siege of the IS militants for more than two weeks, from three directions but, after several hours, they withdrew from the scene because of the fierce opposition and heavy bombardment by the warplanes of the US-led coalition and Iraqi aircraft, the source said.
At least 32 militants were killed and nine of their vehicles destroyed, the source added.
The strategic town of Ameriyat al-Fallujah is the last major town under control of the government ahead of Baghdad, and also located some 60 km of desert land north of the Shia holy city of Karbala, which is located 108 km south of Baghdad. If the militants seize the town they will be closer to the Iraqi capital and will also be able to move closer to Karbala and pound it with artillery and mortars.
Also in the province, the security forces and allied Sunni tribesmen repelled in the morning another attack by the IS militants in the partially seized town of Heet, some 160 km west of Baghdad, a provincial security source told Xinhua.
The militants apparently failed to advance further in the town, the source said, adding that there was no immediate reports about casualties as sporadic clashes continued after the major battle.
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Most of Heet has been under the control of IS militants since Oct 13 except for its al-Furat suburb on the eastern side of Euphrates river which has been seized by the Sunni tribe of Albu-Nimer and some security forces.
The IS is seizing some 80 percent of Iraq's largest province of Anbar and is trying to surround Baghdad from its outer belt, but observers feel that it is not possible for the extremist Sunni group to enter the capital, the majority population of which is from the Shia community and is heavily fortified with security forces and dozens of thousands of Shiite militias.
Since December last year, insurgent attacks continued in the Sunni Arab heartland west of Baghdad that stretches through Anbar province, which has been the scene of fierce clashes that flared up after Iraqi police dismantled an anti-government protest site outside the city of Ramadi.