"Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) fighters seized areas around Ramadi, Anbar's provincial capital, on Wednesday (September 27th) in an apparent attempt at a diversion from offensives on its last Iraqi footholds but were swiftly defeated, AFP reported.

The infiltrators briefly occupied three areas near the city, but after several hours of heavy fighting in which there were deaths on both sides, all three areas were retaken.

"The security forces and the tribes retook control of the al-Tash, Majr and K-7 districts," provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Hadi Kassar Erzaij said.

"All ISIS members were killed," he added.

The operation was likely to have been an attempt to divert the security forces from an offensive they launched last week against the group's last two footholds in Iraq, one of them a series of towns further up the Euphrates Valley from Ramadi.

Twenty-nine civilians and security elements were killed or wounded in the attack, Erzaij told Diyaruna.

"The failed attack proves the defeat and confusion of the group, and also confirms the superior capabilities of the security forces and their ability to speedily deal with terrorist attacks," he said.