Iraqi security forces have made fresh gains against terrorists, liberating new areas in the restive Anbar Province.

According to local media reports on Saturday, Iraqi security forces cleared some areas, including Shera, in the western part of the provincial capital, Ramadi.

A security source also said Iraqi forces launched a sudden attack against terrorists belonging to the Takfiri Daesh group in the areas of Albu Faraj and Albu Ziab in northern Ramadi, destroying seven militant hideouts.

The developments come as heavy rains have brought to a halt military operations to regain the city of Ramadi from the terrorists.

“The military operations to liberate Ramadi have stopped because of the weather,” Ismail Mahalawi, the general in charge of Anbar, said on Friday, adding, “The rain and humidity caused hundreds of explosive devices and booby traps laid by Daesh to explode.”

The general added that operations would resume next week.

Reports also said Iraqi forces carried out successful operations in the provinces of Salahuddin and Nineveh.

Elsewhere, clashes between Iraqi forces and Daesh militants in the city of Samarra led to the killing of nearly 70 militants and the liberating of Saiylu and Hawish areas.

The federal police captain, Raed Shaker Jawdat, said at a press conference in the capital, Baghdad, that the Takfiri militants “attempted to sneak into Samarra, resulting in violent clashes with the federal police forces for 6 hours between 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.”

Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh launched its offensive in Iraq and took control of portions of the country in June 2014.