Early on April 5, ISIS terrorists stormed a position of the Iraqi military near the town of Rutba in the western al-Anbar province.
In a statement released by its news agency, Amaq, the group claimed that its fighters captured the position after killing and injuring eight Iraqi service members.
“Islamic State [ISIS] fighters seized a quantity of weapons and ammunition, they also burned the position before clashing with Iraqi military reinforcements, which arrived at the site, forcing them to withdraw,” the statement reads.
Amaq released a photo showing some of the seized weapons and ammunition, including assault rifles and a DShK 12,7 mm heavy machine gun.
DShK 12,7 mm heavy machine gun can be seen in the left side. Click to see full-size image.
Iraq’s Security Media Cell confirmed that a position near Rutba came under attack in the early morning, revealing that only five soldiers were killed or injured. Iraqi forces are now conducting a combing operation around the town.
ISIS maintains strong influence in al-Anbar, especially in the province’s vast desert. The group’s presence there is well-founded and dates back to its first rise following the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Government forces will need more time and resources to neutralize the group’s remnants there.
