ISIS Cells Continue To Attack Key Highway In Western Iraq (Photos)

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ISIS cells in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar continue to threaten a strategic highway that links the country’s capital, Baghdad, with both Jordanian capital, Amman, and the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The highway passes near the town of Rutba, which is located some 100 kilometers away from the border with Syria and less than 125 kilometers away from the border with Jordan. There is still some traffic on the highway in the direction of Amman. However, the road to Damascus is currently blocked by a US garrison in the southeastern Syrian area of al-Tanf.

On March 3, ISIS terrorists carried out three attacks on the highway. One of the attacks targeted a post of the Iraqi military near the 120 Kilometer point, to the east of Rutba. The terrorists raided the post then targeted a Humvee armored vehicle that was sent by the military as reinforcements.

The other attacks targeted two Humvee armored vehicles which were passing on the highway. Both vehicles were allegedly damaged. ISIS’s news agency, Amaq, shared photos from the attacks on March 9.

These were not ISIS cells’ first attacks on the highway. On February 24, the terrorists ambushed two vehicles of the Iraqi military near the 20 Kilometer and 40 Kilometer points, both located to the east of Rutba. Several Iraqi soldiers were allegedly killed or wounded.

By threatening Iraq’s main highway to Syria and Jordan, ISIS cells are attempting to expand their influence in al-Anbar. The province’s vast desert, which surround a long strip of the highway, is known to be the main stronghold of the terrorist group in Iraq.

The Iraqi military, security forces and pro-government formations are yet to take action to secure the highway and Rutba. The situation there may deteriorate even further in the upcoming months.

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