THE Islamic State (Isis) terror group launched an offensive in Iraq’s western Anbar province yesterday, capturing three villages near the provincial capital of Ramadi and forcing local people to flee from their homes.

The genocidal organisation’s push follows a humiliating rout in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s home town, where government forces drove it out last month.

In a dawn advance, Isis extremists seized the villages of Sjariyah, Albu-Ghanim and Soufiya, which had also been under government control until now, residents said.

Fighting was also reported on Ramadi’s eastern fringes.

In Soufiya, the Islamist militants bombed a police station and seized a power plant. Residents said air strikes were trying to back up Iraqi troops.

An Iraqi intelligence official said the militants were preparing to launch another offensive from the western side of the city. He described the situation as “critical.”

Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Tahseen Ibrahim acknowledged that Isis had “gained a foothold in some areas” in Anbar.

But he said reinforcements had been dispatched to the province and that US-led coalition air strikes were supporting the Iraqi forces.

“The situation is under control and the stand-off will be resolved in the coming hours,” Gen Ibharim said.

Hundreds of US and coalition forces have been training Iraqi troops at Anbar’s Ain Al-Asad air base, about 70 miles
west of Ramadi.

In Syria, Isis forces received a setback as Palestinians in the Yarmouk refugee camp reclaimed some territory seized by the group.