Iraqi Army Kills 50 Al-Qaeda Militants in Fallujah

Local Editor

Iraqi government forces have killed 50 militants in artillery and airstrikes as they continue their preparations to storm the al-Qaeda insurgents' stronghold in the Anbar province city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad.

The Iraqi defense ministry has announced that 50 members of the al-Qaeda linked so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" [ISIL] were killed in Saturday's and Sunday's aerial bombardment and artillery assaults as government forces and local militias targeted ISIL fighters in the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.

The ministry also confirmed that it has neutralized 135 explosive devices and destroyed 7 vehicles. Large amounts of weaponry were also seized.
Defense Minister Saadun al Dulaimi visited the troops to oversee the military progress.

The Iraqi government warned on Saturday that it was preparing a full scale assault on the city.
Meanwhile on Sunday, multiple deadly attacks in Baghdad and cities in its vicinity killed 21 people, security and medical officials said.
At least eight were killed in an attack on Sahwa fighters and anti-al-Qaeda militants in the town of Baiji. What started off as a gun battle on their base was followed by a suicide car bomb. At least 17 people were injured. Another 13 people have been killed in attacks in Baghdad, Balad, Taji, Mosul and Kirkuk.

Over the last month, the prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, has been reaching out to the local tribes to expel militants from the area, while simultaneously appealing for the international community to support the country with arms to battle the al-Qaeda threat.
Before the airstrikes and mortar attacks on Sunday, the government had warned those inside Fallujah to lay down their arms and surrender, threatening to treat anyone who refuses as an ISIL militant "whether he is or not," according to Iraqi military official.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team