Islamic State steps up assault on western Iraqi town after losses

Iraqi officials say the Islamic State group has stepped up attacks on the western town of Haditha, where 45 Iraqi security forces and Sunni tribal fighters have been killed in clashes over the past three days.

Iraqi officials say the Islamic State group has stepped up attacks on the western town of Haditha, where 45 Iraqi security forces and Sunni tribal fighters have been killed in clashes over the past three days.

Iraqi security forces and allied Sunni tribal fighters display weapons used by Islamic State militants to attack their city in Haditha. (AP)

Khalid Salman, a provincial councilman from Haditha, said Wednesday that another 30 pro-government fighters have been wounded. Shaalan al-Nimrawi, a local tribal sheikh, confirms the casualty figures.

The IS attacks on Haditha come a week after Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led airstrikes pushed the extremists out of central Ramadi, the capital of the sprawling Anbar province, which includes Haditha.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said Tuesday that IS has lost 40 percent of its territory in Iraq and 20% in Syria since the airstrikes began in 2014.