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                   Iraqi Forces Killed in IS Clashes, Attacks

   by VOA News

   Islamic State militants exploded three suicide car bombs at the border
   crossing between Iraq and Jordan Saturday, in an attack officials say
   killed at least four Iraqi security forces.

   At least 10 others were reported wounded in the blasts, which were
   quickly claimed by the Islamic State group.

   The Trebill crossing, where the attack occurred, is the only official
   passageway between the two countries.

   The militants overran large parts of Iraq last year, including much of
   the western province of Anbar, where the Trebill crossing is located.

   Islamic State militants also killed a senior Iraqi commander, who was
   head of the 1st Division, and at least one other officer in heavy
   fighting Friday in Anbar province, military officials said.

   The militants' attack included a bombing. In addition to the senior
   military personnel, at least 10 soldiers were killed and up to a dozen
   wounded.

   The jihadist group stepped up attacks near Ramadi in Anbar province
   last week, but in the days since, Iraqi and coalition forces made
   progress in pushing back militant positions in the area, officials
   said.

   "We are seeing Iraqis able to organize with professionalism and
   capacity that was unimaginable six months ago," a senior Obama
   administration official said Thursday.

   But he described the effort to defeat Islamic State militants in Iraq
   and Syria as a "multi-year campaign" and said a "very, very long road"
   lies ahead.


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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/iraqi-forces-killed-in-is-clashes-and
   -attacks/2734274.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/iraqi-forces-killed-in-is-clashes-and-attacks/2734274.html