A group of armed militants of the Islamic State (IS) killed 10 people, among them a Sunni militia commander working with Iraqi government forces, in an attack on a house east of Ramadi, Iraqi security sources said according to kurdistan24.net.
The attack took place on Monday night in the district of Dabtiya, near the town of Karma, about 60 km east of the western Iraqi city of Ramadi.
Witnesses told Kurdistan 24 that the gunmen were dressed as Iraqi security members as they approached the home of the Sunni militia captain and opened fire.
Iraqi local security officials blamed IS “sleeper cells” for the attack, but the jihadist group has yet to claim responsibility.
In the past, the jihadist group has targeted officers and fighters of Sunni militia groups working with Iraqi forces in various Sunni-dominated areas.
“An immediate investigation should be opened into the case, and those who are responsible for the attack should be arrested and referred to a court,” Ahmed Makhlaf, Mayor of Karma, told Iraq’s al-Sumaria TV.
Footage posted on Iraqi social media networks showed several victims in military uniforms bleeding out, with relatives crying in the background.
Most of the victims belonged to the Albumar’i and Albuhazim clans, which had been long supported by the Iraqi security forces in their fight against IS and al-Qaeda in several cities across Anbar Province.
The new Prime Minister of Iraq, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, warned Iraqi forces to be alert regarding IS sleeper cells across the country.
The attack came one day after the start of a military operation against IS in the vast desert of Tharthar, in Anbar.
Despite Iraq declaring a final victory against the extremist group last December, IS continues to launch sporadic attacks, including bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings in previously liberated areas.
