BAGHDAD, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A government-backed paramilitary Hashd Shaabi member and three Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Thursday evening in a rugged area in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a security source said.
A Hashd Shaabi force carried out an operation to hunt down IS militants in the Wadi Hauran area in the western desert of Anbar province and clashed with IS militants, leaving three IS militants killed, Col. Mohammed al-Dulaimi from the provincial police told Xinhua.
A Hashd Shaabi member was also killed in the clash and another wounded, al-Dulaimi said.
He added that Iraqi security forces rushed to the scene and began a search operation looking for the attackers.
The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. ■
