British sapper killed while defusing bomb in Iraq

Troops launched a major offensive to rid the city of bombs and debris left by militants after driving them out.

A British citizen has been killed in Iraq trying to defuse a bomb left by the so-called Islamic State group, U.S. contractor Janus says.

USA demining company Janus Global Operations announced the death of the contractor on Monday, but did not provide any further details. Although it’s not the first robot ever deployed in Iraq, it’ll likely be the first to actually be used as Iraqi forces continue to battle ISIS.

Iraqi army units and volunteer forces known as Popular Mobilization Units have been fighting the terrorists.

According to the AFP news agency, the incident was also confirmed by the mayor of Ramadi, although he did not specify the nationality of the wounded contractor.

An American company is clearing mines in the area left by Islamic State when the city was retaken in December.

“We must help Iraqis clear this ordnance and clear these battlefields so that IDPs can return home safely and resume their lives”.

The town retaken Friday from IS — Khaldiyah, 55 miles (90 kilometers) west of Baghdad — lies between Ramadi and Fallujah, the two key cities in Anbar province retaken from IS by Iraqi security forces over the past year.

Iraqi forces have seized control of a number of villages in northern Iraq and are preparing to retake the IS-held town of Qayyarah ahead of a major assault on Mosul, the largest city still in the militants’ hands.