Iraq forces bomb Islamic State hideouts in Anbar province

Iraq announced its forces carried out airstrikes and airdrops targeting Islamic State (IS) group hideouts in the west of Anbar province on Wednesday.

Iraqi special forces carried out airdrops from helicopters at dawn after warplanes performed six air strikes on five targets in Al-Rutba District, according to an Iraqi Security Media Cell statement reported by The New Arab's Arabic-language sister service, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

"The joint operation, in which the air force, army units, special forces and internal intelligence operatives participated, is one of the important joint qualitative operations carried out by the security forces against the remnants [of IS]," it said, without providing further details.

It comes after Iraq carried out two air strikes on Tuesday night in Anbar against a "hideout for terrorists near Wadi Abu Muqanir", the media cell said.

"Two air strikes destroyed the targeted hideout and killed those who were inside," it added.

A few hours earlier, two IS members were killed in a Kirkuk province airstrike in Iraq's north.

Iraqi intelligence monitors IS' movements in the country while the air force carries out rapid strikes.

The army continually conducts combing operations to search out extremists. These operations take place in provinces including Anbar, Kirkuk, Nineveh and others which were previously liberated from IS control, since remnants of the group remain there.

Despite IS' self-declared caliphate having been territorially defeated in 2019, the extremists continue to pose a threat in Iraq – particularly in the liberated provinces – as they wage a low-level insurgency.

Attacks sometimes lead to deaths and injuries among security personnel and civilians.

IS remnants are also active in neighbouring Syria.