This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The US embassy to Iraq says the United States has delivered 100 Hellfire missiles, along with assault rifles and ammunition, as part of its anti-terrorism assistance to the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the embassy said the delivery was made earlier this month in order to help bolster Iraq forces fighting a breakaway al-Qaida group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The statement promised to send more weapons to Iraq in the coming weeks.

Since late December, Iraq’s western cities have seen fierce clashes pitting government security forces and their allies from tribal Sunni militias against al-Qaida-linked militants and other insurgent groups. The insurgents hold the city of Falluja and parts of the Anbar provincial capital, Ramadi.

Meanwhile, two police officials said a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into a joint security patrol near Ramadi on Sunday afternoon, killing three policemen and two soldiers.

Both officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.