ANBAR, Iraq

Iraqi security forces and the U.S.-led international coalition killed 32 Daesh militants Saturday in Anbar province, a senior Iraqi army officer said.

At least 27 militants were killed in coalition airstrikes that targeted the group’s positions in al-Karma town, around 13 kilometers (9 miles) east of Fallujah, General Major Qasem al-Mohammadi, chief of the Iraqi army’s Anbar military operations, said.

The al-Karma operation has been underway for three days, but there is slow progress because of the presence of many roadside bombs, al-Mohammadi added.

Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces, backed by pro-government tribal fighters, repelled a Daesh attack on a security checkpoint in al-Haouz area in central Ramadi city. 

Security forces killed five Daesh militants in intense clashes and destroyed a vehicle, al-Mohammadi added, without mentioning the Iraqi side’s casualties.

Daesh (the Arabic acronym of ISIL) has been attempting to seize control of Ramadi, the capital city of Anbar province. 

Clashes between Iraqi forces and Daesh have been ongoing since June 2014 when the militants seized Mosul and other territories in Iraq.