Iraqi troops have destroyed an Islamic State camp in west of Anbar, killing militants inside, according to the military media. In a statement on Friday, the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said, “based on information from the military intelligence department, the air force carried out airstrike, which destroyed camp of the terrorist abu Saleh Askari of the State of the South, in the desert in west of Rutba.”

“The air raid killed the militants who were inside the camp and burnt their vehicles,” the statement said, adding that the militants “were planning for a terrorist operation in Karbala.” On Thursday, Emad al-Dulaimi, Rutba mayor, said in remarks that the first phase of military operation to liberate two regions of Okashat and Annahin will be launched simultaneously within the coming few hours.

Anbar’s western towns of Anah, Qaim and Rawa are still held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic Caliphate. Iraqi troops were able to return life back to normal in the biggest cities of Anbar including Fallujah, Ramadi and others after recapturing them. Fighter jets from the Iraqi army and the international coalition regularly pound IS locations in the province.

Three Islamic State prominent preachers escaped from the group’s haven in southwestern Kirkuk to unknown destination along with their families, a local source said. “Three IS preachers in Hawija, Kirkuk, escaped along with their families to unknown place last on Thursday,” the source told AlSumaria News.

“The group stormed houses of the three preachers and inspected houses of their relatives in efforts to find them,” the source, who asked to remain anonymous, added. Earlier on the day, the group reportedly executed a senior leader, known as Abu Qatada al-Muhajir, for attempting to flee the town.

Hawija and other neighboring regions, west of Kirkuk, have been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. The group executed dozens of civilians and security members there, forcing thousands to flee homes.

Further reinforcements from the Federal Police were sent earlier this month from Baghdad to the town, as the military command declared, late August, the end of operations in Tal Afar, the militants’ last haven west of Nineveh, and the approach of the launch of offensives for Hawija.

Spokesperson of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command Yehia Rasool said, last week, there were 2000 IS militants inside Hawija.

On the political side, Iraqi Vice President Nuri Al Maliki warned that Kurdistan’s referendum will suspend deveolpment in the region and will pose serious threats against its security and stability during the current critical period. He called the Kurdish leaders to abandon the idea of referendum to protect their people from any potential threat