ISIS Takes New Iraqi Villages, Advancing to Ramadi

Islamic State fighters have captured three villages and a power plant near the city of Ramadi in western Iraq.

Residents say ISIS launched a fierce offensive against Iraqi troops Wednesday at dawn. By noon they were targeting three more villages on the eastern edge of Ramadi.

Ramadi is the provincial capital of Anbar province, and ISIS fighters are reportedly closing in on that major city.

This new ISIS advance comes as Iraqi government forces have been trying to drive ISIS from other key strongholds. Just this month Iraqi troops pushed ISIS from Tikrit.

The fighting also coincides with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's visit to Washington where he met with President Barack Obama on Tuesday and appealed for greater support from the U.S.-led coalition.

Also, a spate of jihadist attacks in and outside Baghdad killed at least 43 people over the past two days.