Iraqi police liberated the western Anbar town of Wadi al-Sakran from the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) following battles in which 22 of the group's elements were killed, Anbar police said Tuesday (September 20th).

"Joint Iraqi forces entered Wadi al-Sakran in the district of Barwana, west of Ramadi, following fierce battles last night and this morning, which led to the killing of 22 ISIL terrorists, while the others fled," Anbar police chief Maj. Gen. Hadi Kassar Erzaij said in a statement.

Coalition warplanes provided aerial support, destroying ISIL cannons that were impeding the Iraqi forces' advance and striking seven vehicles, he said.

Retaking the area means cutting one of ISIL's supply routes between the western desert and Upper Euphrates cities, he said.

Also on Tuesday, Iraqi forces arrested four ISIL elements, including senior leaders, in central al-Rutba, Federal Police Chief Lt. Gen. Raed Shaker Jawdat.

"The Federal Police's 18th Brigade has arrested four ISIL elements, including two field commanders -- Ataiwi al-Kubaysi and Mohammed al-Assafi -- in a security operation in central al-Rutba," Jawdat said in a statement.

"Weapons, ammunition and materials were seized in the operation, which was launched based on intelligence information and the co-operation of residents," he said.