Over the night the Islamic State militants attack to take Anbar was fought off by the government forces,offcials said.

The insurgents attacked government forces in the town of Husaiba al-Sharqiya,which was about halfway between Ramadi and the Habbaniya military base where the Shia militia fighters have assembled for the counter-attack to retake Ramadi.

Ramadi have fallen to their hands some days back,with the government troops leaving behind in their retreat large amounts of supply to the advantage of the militants.

Habbaniya base is inbetween Ramadi and Fallujah,which was under the control of the Islamic State fighters for more than a year running.And is about 50km from the Iraqi capital.

The insurgents aim is to connect Ramadi and Fallujah to give them wider territory and the seems fully prepared.

As the counter-attack builds up,the insurgents have set up defensive perimetres and laid landmines,and their black flags flying over the main mosque building and other buildings in the town.