142 IRAQI ARMY FORCES KILLED BY ISIL IN ANBAR

Anbar, 8 Rajab 1436/27 April 2015 (MINA) – ISIL group killed at least 142 Iraqi army forces, including senior officers, after seizing control of the strategic Nazem al-Tharthar Dam in the western province of Anbar, a police source told The Anadolu Agency Saturday.

The source said that ISIL completely seized control of the army base of the 1st brigade of the 1st division, which is assigned to secure the Nazem al-Tharthar area, including the dam, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The source added that Daesh killed 90 Iraqi forces and Iraqi Hezbollah Shiite militia members after seizing control of the dam.

The death toll included Iraqi Brigadier Hassan Abbas Tofan, commander of the 1st division of the rapid intervention forces, as well as the commander of its 1st brigade, Colonel Hilal Matar.

The Hezbollah militia is a faction of al-Hashid al-Shaabi paramilitary Shiite militia.

The source also said that ISIL took 52 army forces captive, including army officers, and slaughtered them in al-Karma city.

ISIL captured large amounts of weapons and ammunition, including tanks and armored vehicles, from the army base, sources added. (T/P001/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)