Iraqi troops, militias repel ISIS

Government forces and Shiite militiamen repelled an ISIS attack Friday that left 10 soldiers dead in Anbar province, officials said.

ISIS attacked the government-held town of Khalidiyah with mortar bombs and five suicide car bombs, Anbar councilman Athal al-Fahdawi said. They retreated after an hourslong battle, leaving behind 12 dead fighters. Some were hiding in houses in nearby Abu Flais village, Fahdawi said.

Police and army officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least 10 soldiers were killed. Meanwhile, ISIS radio outlet Al-Bayan said the militants seized positions in the Khalidyah area after attacking Iraqi troops and Shiite militias with car bombs.

Also Friday, a representative for Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani urged countries in the region to take “decisive measures” to stop the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq.

“The continuation of the policy of carelessness and turning a blind eye on the flow of these fighters to Iraq will increase the danger of these gangs to Iraq and they will represent a threat to their countries,” Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalei said during a Friday sermon in Karbala.