Iraqi army launches major offensive in Anbar Province

Iraqi army forces backed by thousands of volunteers have launched a major offensive against Takfiri militants in Anbar Province.

Iraqi military sources say the government troops conducted the massive military attack on the al-Karma district near Fallujah city to clear the area of ISIL terrorists.

Karma is one of the closest districts to the capital Baghdad that had fallen into the hands of militants.

This comes after army commanders said the government troops have made fresh gains on several fronts.

“Vigorous military operations are still underway in Anbar’s cities against terrorist gangs, among them ISIL, which are trying to control Anbar and shed the blood of innocents,” media outlets quoted the army commander in Anbar, Lt. Gen. Rasheed Flaih, as saying.

He added, “Army and police forces have made headway with support from the tribesmen, and more than 98% of Ramadi has been cleared.”

This is while Iraqi Christians are fleeing the northern city of Mosul after ISIL terrorists threatened to kill them unless they convert or pay a protection tax. Takfiri terrorists not only target Christians but Shia and Sunni Muslims as well.

In a separate development, a series of car bombs rocked the capital Baghdad, causing casualties.

The deadliest explosion ripped through the southern Shia neighborhood of Abu Dashir when a bomber blew up an explosive-packed car at a checkpoint, killing nine people including four policemen.

At least two dozen people including six officers sustained injuries in that attack.

Human rights organizations and International bodies have condemned ISIL atrocities in Iraq, saying that the Takfiri group’s actions amount to war crimes.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has blamed Saudi Arabia and Qatar for the security crisis and growing terrorism in his country, denouncing Riyadh as a major supporter of global terrorism.