By Suleiman al-Qubaisi

BAGHDAD 

Five Iraqi soldiers were killed late Saturday in a Daesh attack in the western Anbar province, an army officer has said.

Daesh militants attacked a police headquarters in al-Ratba city, triggering clashes with security forces, Walid al-Duleimi told Anadolu Agency.

“Five soldiers and seven militants were killed in ensuing clashes,” he said.

According to al-Duleimi, three Iraqi soldiers were unaccounted for following the attack.

“Iraqi forces repelled the attackers and forced Daesh militants to retreat,” he said.

There was no comment from the Iraqi authorities on the attack.

Backed by U.S.-led airstrikes, Iraqi forces have been battling Daesh militants in an attempt to retake territory captured by the terrorist group in northern and western Iraq in 2014.

Iraqi forces are currently planning to launch an offensive to recapture Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, from Daesh, which overran the city two years ago.