Heavy clashes underway in Iraq’s Anbar

Fierce fighting is underway between Iraqi security forces and al-Qaeda-affiliated militants in the western province of Anbar, reports say.

The clashes are reported to be mainly taking place in al-Kartan area, east of Ramadi, where one militant leader has also been killed.

“The security forces have killed the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Ismaeel Lateef, in al-Kartan area,” All Iraq News Agency, known as AIN, quoted a security source as saying on Monday.

Iraqi government forces launched a military operation on Sunday in an attempt to retake the key neighborhoods of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar.

Anbar has been the scene of deadly fighting between the security forces and ISIL militants in recent weeks.

The violence in Anbar broke out on December 30, 2013, when the army removed an anti-government protest camp in Ramadi. Authorities said the camp was used as “headquarters for the leadership of al-Qaeda.”

The bloodshed later spread to Fallujah and the militants moved in and seized the city and parts of Ramadi.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki has blamed “diabolical” and “treacherous” Arab countries for the recent rise in violence in his country, saying, “Iraq is the target for some countries that are backing terrorism, and backing evil.”

Iraq is now experiencing its worst cycle of violence since 2008, with al-Qaeda-affiliated militants mounting violence against the people and the central government.