Special to WorldTribune.com

Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) militants drove a tank laden with explosives into an Iraqi base south of Samarra on June 1, killing 38 Iraqi policeman and injuring 46 more.

The base has been the site of a back-and-forth battle between ISIL and Iraqi security forces.

Iraq forces had taken the site from militants last week and were using it as a base of operations to cut off ISIL’s supply lines from Samarra to Anbar province.

ISIL has seized a number of U.S.-origin vehicles from fleeing Iraqi forces, including tanks. (There were no reports on  the type and origin of the tank used in the June 1 attack.)

Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, was taken by ISIL last month in one of the biggest setbacks for the U.S.-led coalition.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pledged to retake Ramadi, but Shi’ite paramilitary groups who have taken charge of the offensive say ISIL strongholds in Salahuddin province must be cleared first.

  Anbar province, Iraq, ISIL may have used U.S. tank on suicide attack that killed 38 Iraqi police, Islamic state, WorldTribune.com