Islamic State group fighters disguised as soldiers ambushed a government convoy in a remote desert region of western Iraq on Sunday, killing 10 members of the security forces.
An army lieutenant colonel said that "Daesh (IS) members armed with assault rifles and rocket launchers attacked civilian and military vehicles carrying soldiers near Rutba."
"They killed at least 10 and wounded 20." Other officials also confirmed the attack and the casualty toll.
Rutba lies about 390km west of Baghdad in the vast province of Anbar and is the last town on the road to the border with Jordan.
BREAKING: #Daesh #ISIS ambush near Rutba, in western #Iraq province of #Anbar, kills 10 members of security forces: officials @AFP
— Jean-Marc Mojon (@mojobaghdad) April 23, 2017
Border guards and other security forces posted in the area have been routinely attacked by IS in recent months. The army officer said the victims of the attack were members of the border guard.
A border guard said "The Daesh members were wearing military uniforms and driving military vehicles. They set up a rogue checkpoint on the main road near Rutba."
He said five of the 10 killed in the ambush were border guards. The army lieutenant colonel said the jihadists took advantage of a sandstorm to carry out their attack.