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IS conflict: Iraq air strikes 'target militant convoy' | IS conflict: Iraq air strikes 'target militant convoy' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A convoy carrying suspected Islamic State militants has been destroyed in air strikes near the Iraqi city of Falluja, the defence ministry says. | A convoy carrying suspected Islamic State militants has been destroyed in air strikes near the Iraqi city of Falluja, the defence ministry says. |
An Iraqi security source told the BBC the jihadists had been attempting to flee an offensive by government forces, who recently recaptured Falluja. | An Iraqi security source told the BBC the jihadists had been attempting to flee an offensive by government forces, who recently recaptured Falluja. |
They were bombed by Iraqi air force planes as they headed for IS territory near the border with Syria, he added. | They were bombed by Iraqi air force planes as they headed for IS territory near the border with Syria, he added. |
Photos purportedly of the scene showed about a dozen burned-out vehicles. | Photos purportedly of the scene showed about a dozen burned-out vehicles. |
On Sunday, the Iraqi government announced that Falluja, about 50km (30 miles) west of the capital Baghdad, was fully under its control after a five-week offensive by security forces and allied militias. | On Sunday, the Iraqi government announced that Falluja, about 50km (30 miles) west of the capital Baghdad, was fully under its control after a five-week offensive by security forces and allied militias. |
Inside Falluja after IS: 'The air smelt of war' | Inside Falluja after IS: 'The air smelt of war' |
Islamic State group: The full story | Islamic State group: The full story |
Islamic State crisis in seven charts | Islamic State crisis in seven charts |
The security source, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that a large number of militants fleeing the assault had gathered in the al-Ruwaila area. | The security source, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that a large number of militants fleeing the assault had gathered in the al-Ruwaila area. |
They had planned to drive through Iraq's western desert to the IS-held town of al-Qaim, near the border of Anbar province with Syria, he added. | They had planned to drive through Iraq's western desert to the IS-held town of al-Qaim, near the border of Anbar province with Syria, he added. |
Acting on intelligence, Iraqi air force warplanes carried out a series of strikes on the convoy west of the town of Amariyat al-Falluja late on Tuesday, killing many militants, the source said. | Acting on intelligence, Iraqi air force warplanes carried out a series of strikes on the convoy west of the town of Amariyat al-Falluja late on Tuesday, killing many militants, the source said. |
Those who survived the raids were believed to have fled towards nearby Lake Razzaza and Lake Habbaniya. | Those who survived the raids were believed to have fled towards nearby Lake Razzaza and Lake Habbaniya. |
A statement issued by the Iraqi defence ministry cited Gen Hamid al-Maliki, head of the Army Aviation Command, as saying that dozens of vehicles were destroyed in the strikes, which he said were continuing. | A statement issued by the Iraqi defence ministry cited Gen Hamid al-Maliki, head of the Army Aviation Command, as saying that dozens of vehicles were destroyed in the strikes, which he said were continuing. |
The security source added that the head of the Badr Organisation, a powerful Shia militia, had sent fighters to the area in case the militants tried to attack the Shia shrine city of Karbala, to the south. | The security source added that the head of the Badr Organisation, a powerful Shia militia, had sent fighters to the area in case the militants tried to attack the Shia shrine city of Karbala, to the south. |
There was no immediate comment on the strikes from the US-led coalition against IS, which provided extensive air support for the Falluja offensive. | There was no immediate comment on the strikes from the US-led coalition against IS, which provided extensive air support for the Falluja offensive. |
Also on Wednesday, the US said it would make $2.7bn (£2bn) available to the Iraqi government to help pay for its war against IS. | |
The loan will fund ammunition purchases and the maintenance of fighter planes, tanks and other military equipment. | |
The cost of the war is a major burden on the Iraqi economy at a time when it is struggling to cope with the dramatic slump in the price of oil, its major export. |
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