Daesh militants raze govt buildings in Iraq’s Anbar

By Suleiman al-Qubais

ANBAR, Iraq (AA) - The Daesh terrorist group Thursday began blowing up government buildings in Iraq’s western Anbar province, according to a local Iraqi official.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Saad Awwad, governor of Anbar’s Anah district, said militants had blown up several government buildings in the district in anticipation of an imminent army campaign aimed at recapturing the area.

Daesh overran much of Anbar -- including Anah -- in mid-2014 after Iraqi forces withdrew from the region.

While the Iraqi army and its local allies -- backed by a U.S.-led air coalition -- have since recovered much territory, the terrorist group still holds much of Anbar, along with the northern city of Mosul.