ANBAR, Iraq
Daesh killed at least 142 Iraqi army forces, including senior officers, after seizing control of the strategic Nazem al-Tharthar Dam in the western province of Anbar, a police source told The Anadolu Agency Saturday.
The source said that Daesh completely seized control of the army base of the 1st brigade of the 1st division, which is assigned to secure the Nazem al-Tharthar area, including the dam.
The source added that Daesh killed 90 Iraqi forces and Iraqi Hezbollah Shiite militia members after seizing control of the dam.
The death toll included Iraqi Brigadier Hassan Abbas Tofan, commander of the 1st division of the rapid intervention forces, as well as the commander of its 1st brigade, Colonel Hilal Matar.
The Hezbollah militia is a faction of al-Hashid al-Shaabi paramilitary Shiite militia.
The source also said that Daesh took 52 army forces captive, including army officers, and slaughtered them in al-Karma city.
Daesh captured large amounts of weapons and ammunition, including tanks and armored vehicles, from the army base, sources added.
Meanwhile, Anbar province’s military operations chief, Major General Mohamed Khalaf, told The Anadolu Agency on Saturday that the Iraqi forces, backed by al-Hashid al-Shaabi, launched a large-scale operation to retake control of the Nazem al-Tharthar area from Daesh.
The operation started after military reinforcements from the Iraqi army and central police forces arrived from Baghdad.
Daesh claims responsibility for Iraq-Jordan border attacks
Daesh released photos of three suspected suicide bombers who the terrorist group said were responsible for attacking an Iraqi security checkpoint near the Iraq-Jordan border crossing.
Daesh had claimed responsibility for the attack that happened on Saturday, saying the suicide bombers were from France, Belgium and Senegal.
Sabah Karhout, president of Anbar province’s council, told The Anadolu Agency that five Iraqi border guards were killed and 9 others were injured after three explosives-laden cars attacked the checkpoint.
Also, Azal al-Fahdawi, a member of Anbar province’s council, told The Anadolu Agency that Jordanian authorities have closed the Terbil border crossing after the attacks.
Terbil is the only border crossing between Jordan and Iraq.
