9 Iraqis, including tribal fighter, killed in Islamic State attack in Anbar

Security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State during sand storm in Ramadi. (AP Photo)

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) – Nine Iraqis were killed Sunday in an attack by the terrorist Islamic State group in the Iraqi province of Anbar, a security source was quoted as saying.

Speaking to the privately-owned Baghdad Today website, the source said that Islamic State militants targeted a house of a fighter of the Tribal Mobilization Forces in al-Dabtiya area, west of Karama district in Anbar province.

“The attack left the tribal fighter and eight passers-by dead,” the statement added.

Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence last November with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.

The Islamic State group appeared on the international scene in 2014 when it seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring the establishment of an Islamic “caliphate” from Mosul city.

Later on, the group has become notorious for its brutality, including mass killings, abductions and beheadings, prompting the U.S. to lead an international coalition to destroy it.

Last December, former Iraqi prime minister Haidar al-Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring the end of a three-year war against IS members.

Abadi declared Dec. 10 an annual national holiday on this occasion.