Islamic State suicide bombings and clashes between the extremist group and Iraqi troops killed 13 soldiers in Iraq’s western Anbar province Wednesday, while in Syria, government forces retook an oil field recently captured by the militant group, reports the Daily Mail.
Iraqi military and security officials said attacks in Anbar involved at least two suicide bombers who targeted a military outpost in the volatile province, which fell to the militants during the Islamic State’s blitz last year.
The outpost housed a joint contingent of Iraqi soldiers, policemen, and allied Sunni militiamen, the officials said.
Another 13 soldiers were wounded in the attacks, the latest to hit beleaguered Iraqi forces trying to claw back territory from the Islamic State.
Meanwhile, in Syria, government troops regained control of a major oil field in central Homs province, driving out Islamic State militants days after the extremists captured the field, according to Governor Talal Barazzi.
Barazzi said the army established control Wednesday of the Jazal oil field following intense battles.
Activists say the oil field is not operational.
The Islamic State controls most of Syria’s oil fields, most of them along the border with Iraq.
The group captured a third of both Iraq and Syria last summer and declared a caliphate on the territory it controls.