Page 22 - KPA MAY 28
P. 22
WORLD NEWS 9
Thursday 28 May 2015
Islamic State suicide attacks in Iraq’s Anbar kill 17 troops
SINAN SALAHEDDIN Iraqi government forces U.S. soldiers prepare to participate in a training mission with Iraqi Army soldier, right, outside Bagh-
Associated Press retook the station a few dad, Iraq, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. Islamic State extremists unleashed a wave of suicide at-
BAGHDAD (AP) — As Iraqi days later. Fallujah lies to tacks targeting the Iraqi army in western Anbar province, killing at least 17 troops in a major blow
forces gathered for a ma- the east of the Anbar pro- to government efforts to dislodge the militants from the sprawling Sunni heartland, an Iraqi military
jor new offensive to try to vincial capital of Ramadi, spokesman said Wednesday.
take back the sprawling which was captured 10
Sunni heartland of Anbar days ago by the Islamic (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
province, Islamic State mili- State militants in a major
tants struck first, unleashing defeat for Iraqi troops. in both countries despite tar, told the AP it will con- the country, including near
a wave of suicide bomb- The military, humiliated last months of U.S.-led airstrikes. tinue to provide air support Ramadi, where it has been
ings that killed at least 17 year when it crumbled in Capt. Andrew Caulk, a U.S. “to government-controlled carrying out airstrikes for
soldiers. the face of the militant on- Air Force spokesman in Qa- Iraqi forces” throughout several months.q
The attacks outside the slaught in the city of Mosul,
extremist-held city of Fal- had regained some mo-
lujah came just hours af- mentum after its victory in
ter the Iraqi government Saddam Hussein’s home-
announced the start of a town of Tikrit last month.
wide-scale operation to The campaign to retake
recapture areas under Is- Anbar, which is said to be
lamic State control in the backed by Shiite militias
vast desert province that and pro-government Sun-
stretches to the border ni fighters, is deemed criti-
with Jordan. cal in regaining momen-
The militants used a sand- tum in the fight against the
storm that engulfed most Islamic State group.
of Iraq to launch the dead- The capture of Ramadi,
ly wave of bombings late followed only days later
Tuesday night, Brig. Gen by the fall of the ancient
Saad Maan Ibrahim, the Syrian town of Palmyra,
spokesman for the Joint showed the Islamic State
Military Command, told group’s ability to advance
The Associated Press.
He said it was not clear Saudi-led airstrikes in Sanaa kill 45 in Yemen
how many suicide attack-
ers were involved in the AHMED AL-HAJ The Associated Press. There wounded at least 286. The in the western Hodeida
bombings but they struck Associated Press also were militiamen there main Houthi satellite news province controlled by
from multiple directions at SANAA, Yemen (AP) — from the ranks of the Shiite channel gave a similar the Houthis. Saudi and al-
the Iraqi troops, who were Saudi-led airstrikes struck rebels, known as Houthis, death toll, saying it was ex- lied jets also bombed the
gathered near a water a headquarters for police many of them wearing tra- pected to rise. northern Houthi strongholds
control station and a lock commandos in Yemen’s ditional Yemeni clothes, The three men, along with of Saada and Hajjah, wit-
system on a canal be- capital Wednesday, killing they said. The bombs and security officials describing nesses said.
tween the Euphrates River at least 45 people gath- missiles demolished at least the attack, spoke on condi- The attacks are part a mili-
and Lake Tharthar as they ered there to prepare to three buildings in the com- tion of anonymity because tary campaign launched
prepared to deploy. fight against forces loyal to plex, damaged armored they were not authorized March 26 to try and restore
Last month, the water sta- the country’s exiled presi- vehicles and set weapons to speak to journalists. internationally recognized
tion near Fallujah fell into dent, Shiite rebels said. depots ablaze, many hav- Across the country Wednes- President Abed Rabbo
the hands of the militants Hundreds had been gath- ing explosions for at least day, the ministry said vio- Mansour Hadi, now living in
following attacks that also ered at the site, close to Sa- an hour afterward. lence killed another 96 exile in neighboring Saudi
included multiple suicide naa’s presidential palace, The Houthi-controlled people and wounded 276, Arabia. The strikes target
bombings that killed a to receive weapons while Health Ministry said in a without breaking down ci- the Houthis and their al-
general commanding the others loitered in the grass statement that the strikes vilian casualties. lies, which include forces
1st Division and a dozen and under trees before the killed at least 45 members Witnesses said jets also loyal to ousted President Ali
other officers and soldiers, strike, three men there told of the security forces and bombed a naval base Abdullah.q
Ibrahim said.
