Four western Iraqi towns fall to advancing ISIS militants
June 22, 2014 -- Updated 1444 GMT (2244 HKT)
Source: CNN
In addition to their
offensives in northern Iraq, the militants have strengthened their hand
in the western province of Anbar, the country's largest geographically,
and were controlling Qaim, Rawa, Ana and Husaybah, said the senior
official, who's based in Anbar.
In all, the Islamic State
in Syria and Iraq, or ISIS, controlled more than 70% of Anbar province,
two security officials in the province told CNN.
.
.
Most importantly, ISIS
controlled the strategic town of Qaim on the border with Syria, where
the enemy fighters enjoy a stronghold, Iraqi security officials said
Saturday.
.
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Together, the four towns
are situated along a highway from Syria to Baghdad, heightening
possibilities that the militants could now march from the west to lay
siege to the Iraqi capital. One of the four towns, Husaybah, is just 100
kilometers (60 miles) outside Baghdad.
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