Iraqi forces' battle with IS enters fourth day

Iraqi security forces on Friday continued their battles for the fourth consecutive day against the Islamic State (IS) militants and moved closer to the central part of Anbar's provincial capital city of Ramadi.

Iraqi army police and anti-terrorism troops, backed by Iraqi and US-led coalition aircraft, engaged in heavy clashes with IS militants in Houz district which is adjacent to the government compound in central Ramadi, some 110 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Xinhua reported.

The troops made a significant advance and took control of large part of Houz district. The militants focused in the battles on Friday on snipers, suicide bombers, car bombs and booby-trapped houses to hamper the troops advance.

The heavy battles in Houz district left more than 60 IS militants and 15 security members killed and some 40 others injured.

Also on Friday, Iraqi security forces repelled an IS attack on military positions in al-Mudheij area, just east of Ramadi, killing 11 IS militants who were wearing explosive vests.