Local police chief Lieutenant Colonel Aref al-Janabi told Arabic-language al-Sumaria satellite television network that Daesh Takfiris have taken civilians, mostly, women, children and elderly, hostage in Albu Hawi and Hasi villages, which lie north of the city of Amiriyah, located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Fallujah, on Saturday.
He added that ISIS militants have also arrested dozens of young people from the two villages, and prevented the local residents from leaving the area.
Janabi further noted that ISIS terrorists are using scores of the civilians as human shields as tribal fighters together with security forces have launched an operation to retake the two besieged villages.
Elsewhere on the outskirts of the northern town of Hawija, located about 282 kilometers (175 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad, ISIS members abducted 18 civilians on charges of cooperation with government forces.
A local police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the militants took the people to an unknown location in Hawija, adding that the fate of the abductees remains unclear.
Furthermore, member of al-Baghdadi district council in Anbar Province, Abdul Jabbar al-Obeidi, said on Saturday that ISIS Takfiris have lobbed three mortar rounds at the area, situated about 180 kilometers (110 miles) northwest of Baghdad, on Saturday, with no casualties reported.
He added that the 7th Field Artillery Regiment of the Iraqi Army later gave a befitting response to the attack, incurring losses on ISIS terrorists’ ranks.
Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since ISIS Takfiris launched an offensive in the country in June 2014, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory.
The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and others.
Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.
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