Iraqi army claims progress in Anbar amid Baghdad bombings

BAGHDAD — Iraq's army announced it was making progress in the battle against Daesh militants in Anbar province Sunday even as it struggled to retake territory lost over the weekend and a string of bombings rocked the capital.

After driving militants out of the northern city of Tikrit earlier this month, Iraqi forces have turned their attention to Anbar province, large parts of which have been under Daesh control for more than a year. The see-saw conflict has seen both sides take and lose territory.

Defence Minister Khalid Al Obeidi said on Iraqi television that the army has achieved "90 per cent" of its objectives in the town of Garma, between Baghdad and the Daesh-held city of Fallujah. He added that an operation had been launched to retake the water control station on a canal lost over the weekend.

"Our bold military units in Anbar are still holding their positions," he said. "In the coming days, we will implement a well-organised plan to attack the enemy and drive it out of its positions seized in Anbar."

The attack on the water control station on the canal between Lake Tharthar and the Euphrates River late Friday was a setback for the Iraqi military, killing the general commanding the 1st Division and a dozen other officers and soldiers. Obeidi said eight soldiers lost in the fighting had been recovered.