IS car bombings in Iraq, nearly 50 casualties

A series of coordinated attacks by the Islamic State (IS) group on security forces in Ramadi city, capital of Iraq's western Anbar province, killed at least 17 security forces and injured 30 others on March 11, Xinhua news agency quoted a security source as saying.

Members of the Iraqi security forces patrol a highway near Ramadi. Source: AFP

The attacks began in the morning when seven car bombs, including suicide bombers, exploded targeting checkpoints and military bases in government-controlled areas of Ramadi city, 110km west of Baghdad, the source said.

Fierce clashes then broke out in the al-Houz district near the government headquarters and three other districts in the city center, which is partly controlled by IS.

IS has now taken over about 80% of Anbar, Iraq's largest province, and is plotting to advance towards Baghdad, but counterattacks by security forces and Shi'ite militias have pushed back the jihadist group.

According to Vietnam+