ISIL Suicide Attackers Storm Army Base In Iraq

04b93d5e540d4999bfe22ada25528bfb_18

At least 10 suicide attackers from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attempted to storm one of the largest army bases in Iraq, according to the country’s military. A Iraqi defence ministry spokesman told Al Jazeera that eight of the fighters were killed by soldiers at Ein el-Assad base on Saturday.   The source said that the two remaining fighters managed to blow themselves up, and added that further casualties were unconfirmed.

A separate source told Al Jazeera that at least 18 soldiers had been killed. Ain al-Assad was the largest coalition base in western Iraq after the US invasion. Hundreds of US military advisors and trainers now use the base to support Iraqi troops. Iraqi forces launched an offensive last week to retake Anbar province. Sixty to 70 percent of the province remains under the control of ISIL.

At least 10 suicide attackers from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attempted to storm one of the largest army bases in Iraq, according to the country’s military.

A Iraqi defence ministry spokesman told Al Jazeera that eight of the fighters were killed by soldiers at Ein el-Assad base on Saturday.   The source said that the two remaining fighters managed to blow themselves up, and added that further casualties were unconfirmed. A separate source told Al Jazeera that at least 18 soldiers had been killed.

Ain al-Assad was the largest coalition base in western Iraq after the US invasion. Hundreds of US military advisors and trainers now use the base to support Iraqi troops. Iraqi forces launched an offensive last week to retake Anbar province. Sixty to 70 percent of the province remains under the control of ISIL.