27 IS militants killed in Iraq airstrikes

Baghdad May 15 (IANS) At least 27 Islamic State militants were killed in airstrikes by international coalition against IS posts in the IS-held areas in Iraq s western province of Anbar on Sunday an Iraqi army source said.

According to intelligence reports the US-led coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike on an internet cafe used by IS militants as a headquarters in the town of al-Qaim near the border with Syria leaving some 20 of them killed Nouman al-Zoubaie commander of the army s 7th Division told Xinhua.

Another airstrike destroyed an IS post in the city of Aana killing six militants Zoubaie said.

In addition an international airstrike bombed a booby-trapped vehicle and killed its driver he added.

In a separate incident a booby-trapped car detonated at a busy intersection in Karrada district in central Baghdad leaving a civilian killed and five others wounded a local police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The airstrikes in western Iraq and Baghdad car bombing came as the Iraqi security forces backed by anti-IS international coalition are carrying out a major offensive to drive out IS militants from their major stronghold in the western side of Mosul in northern Iraq.

--IANS
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