Jan. 07, 2016 Isis using bulldozers with explosives to carry out suicide attacks in Iraq Islamic State u

Jan. 07, 2016

اقتباس :

اقتباس :: Isis using bulldozers with explosives to carry out suicide attacks in Iraq

Islamic State used bulldozers to destroy international historical heritage sites. New photographs proved ISIS is now using these bulldozers to carry out suicide missions against Iraqi security forces.

اقتباس :

اقتباس :: Hundreds have been killed after three days of heavy fighting. The latest offensive happened a week after the Iraqi military captured most of Anbar province's capital of Ramadi.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The governor of Anbar's office has released photos showing steel-plated bulldozers used by ISIS in a recent offensive against the strategic Iraqi city of Haditha.

Hundreds have been killed after three days of heavy fighting. The latest offensive happened a week after the Iraqi military captured most of Anbar province's capital of Ramadi.

Jan. 07, 2016 Isis using bulldozers with explosives to carry out suicide attacks in Iraq Islamic State u 07_E4_11

اقتباس :

اقتباس :: A representative from Anbar governor's office has confirmed to Newsweek that the pictures were from Haditha.

"This is what they use for suicide missions. It's very difficult to stop," he told reporters. "That has been one of their most powerful weapons, which they also used to take over Ramadi back in May. They rig them with explosives and drive them to military locations."

Haditha is of high strategic importance. The area is an important transportation hub between the western regions of Anbar, the central province of Salahuddin, and the northern governorate of Nineveh.

Haditha remains the only city in Anbar province that managed to block ISIS' attempts to overrun it.

Islamic State launched a strong offensive after reinforcements arrived from neighboring Syria. Weapons have been seized from military installations in towns and villages around Hadhita.

Previously, ISIS used bulldozers to destroy parts of the ancient monastery of Mar Elian in Qaryatain, located in the central Syrian province of Homs.

Islamic State suffered serious military setbacks late last month. The militant group lost Ramadi on December 28 after Iraqi forces raised the nation's flag above the city. ISIS has conducted counter-attacks against Iraqi forces in Ramadi, but has bolstered its operations in the Haditha area of Anbar.

The region is of strategic value to ISIS, as it is a Sunni Muslim stronghold. The dam north of Haditha city is the second largest in Iraq.

"There have been several ISIL attacks near Haditha," Colonel Steve Warren, a representative for the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, tweeted earlier this week. "None of these attacks have been successful due to stronger ISF (Iraqi security forces) and CJTFOIR airstrikes."