AL-ANBAR/ SALADIN, Iraq 

At least 35 Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) militants were killed in ground operations led by Iraqi and local militia forces in Fallujah in the western Iraqi province of Al Anbar and northern Iraqi city of Saladin, on Monday, according to Iraqi security officials.

Lieutenant General Rashid Felih, responsible for operations in al-Anbar, said the district has been cleared of militants by the tribes’ militia forces and Iraqi army and during the clashes at least 15 ISIL militants were killed in the district.

He also confirmed that ISIL militants were repelled from the town of al-Amiriyah in Fallujah, 40 kilometers west of Baghdad in Iraq and the region is fully controlled by the Iraqi army. The clashes continued for five hours and more ISIL military supplies were destroyed.

In addition, Saladin Governorate Police Chief Hamad en-Namisum confirmed that at least another 20 militants were killed as the militants attacked Tikrit University campus.

The Iraqi Air Force also bombed on Monday ISIL’s security point in Dakuk town in Iraq south of Kirkuk, the town's security officer Hiva Rashid confirmed.

Iraq has suffered from escalating ethnic violence, which then morphed into a militant campaign since a coalition of armed groups linked to ISIL captured large swathes of the country's predominantly Sunni provinces in early June.

Violence instigated by ISIL militants has claimed more than 1,400 lives in August alone, and caused 1.2 million Iraqis, including Turkmen, Arabs, Christians and Ezidis, to flee their homes.

www.aa.com.tr/en