Senior Iraqi army officer killed near Saudi border

A high-ranking Iraqi military officer has been killed and five others injured in an explosion in western Anbar province near the Saudi border, according to an army officer Saturday.

Brig. Gen. Laith al-Samawi was killed when an explosive device hit a border guards’ patrol as it passed the road linking Arar Crossing and Anaza police station on the Iraqi-Saudi border.

“The explosion resulted in the death of Brig. Gen. Laith al-Samawi, an officer from the command of the Border Guards 5th Zone, and wounding of another five border guards, causing a huge damage in the security patrol of the forces,” Army Col. Waleed al-Dulaimi told Anadolu Agency.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, Daesh has ambushed border guards patrols in ther past in Al-Rutba district and near the Iraqi-Saudi border.