"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) fighters attacked an Iraqi border guard base near Jordan on Tuesday (August 16th), killing at least nine people before being beaten back, AFP reported.

The early morning attack involved heavy mortar fire and saw several hours of clashes between ISIL elements and border guards defending their position near Rutba, the last town before the Trebil border crossing, officers said.

"Elements from the ISIL gangs attacked the 2nd regiment of the border guard, which is located on the highway between Rutba and Trebil," a colonel in the border guard said.

Eight members of the border guard and a civilian were killed in the clashes, the Joint Operations Command said.

The colonel said 17 border guards also were wounded in the attack, which occurred in the westernmost part of Anbar province.

"Several ISIL fighters also were killed and they were forced to withdraw. The base has remained under border guard control," the officer said.

Rutba was recaptured from ISIL in May this year.