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Islamic State militants repelled in counter-attack on Ramadi university

Islamic State militants also attacked Iraqi security forces and allied militias in Salahuddin province.

By Fred Lambert
An Iraqi Army soldier inspects the site of a roadside bombing in a market in the Shia stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Iraqi troops, bolstered by Iran-trained Shia militias and U.S.-led coalition air power, were able to repel a coordinated assault by Islamic State militants on the newly-captured University of Anbar complex. File photo by Ali Jasim/UPI
An Iraqi Army soldier inspects the site of a roadside bombing in a market in the Shia stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Iraqi troops, bolstered by Iran-trained Shia militias and U.S.-led coalition air power, were able to repel a coordinated assault by Islamic State militants on the newly-captured University of Anbar complex. File photo by Ali Jasim/UPI | License Photo

RAMADI, Iraq, July 28 (UPI) -- Iraqi forces holding the University of Anbar in Ramadi repelled a coordinated counter-attack by Islamic State militants on Tuesday.

The attack kicked off when IS forces hit the compound with three suicide truck bombs, followed my an infantry assault on the complex, which is located in the southwestern portion of the city, an anonymous provincial security source told Xinhua news agency.

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The militants then used 12 roadside bombs to ambush a relief convoy attempting to reinforce the southern side of the complex. Iraqi forces blunted the assault, which ended after 21 IS militants, including the three suicide bombers, were killed. The source did not provide figures for casualties among Iraqi security forces.

Bolstered by Iran-trained Shia militias and U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, Iraqi forces were able to seize the university on Sunday after hours of heavy fighting. Back-and-forth clashes around the complex are reportedly ongoing as forces loyal to the Baghdad government attempt to recapture Ramadi from IS forces after losing the city in May.

The provincial capital of Anbar province, Ramadi is about 80 miles west of Baghdad. An estimated 2,000 IS militants are believed to be holding the city.

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U.S. Central Command reported six airstrikes against IS forces in Ramadi on Monday, destroying a number of IS vehicles, indirect fire weapons, structures and fighting positions.

Meanwhile, IS forces on Tuesday conducted a similar assault east of the town of Baiji, in Salahuddin province. Three suicide truck bombers detonated before IS fighters swarmed Iraqi positions, an anonymous provincial security source told Xinhua. Iraqi security forces battled into the afternoon fighting off the attackers, suffering nine killed and more than 23 wounded. Casualty figures for the militants were not reported.

The Iraqi government announced the offensive against IS forces in Anbar province on July 13. Most of the province, which was the setting of several bloody battles during the U.S. occupation, has been in IS hands since the militants spilled over from Syria early last year.

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