Witnesses say Islamic State group militants publicly kill 6 soldiers in Iraq's Anbar province

Iraqi security forces inspect the lifeless bodies of a militant from the Islamic State group after clashes, near the town of Jbala, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

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Iraqi security forces patrol after clashes with militants from the Islamic State group near the town of Jbala, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

BAGHDAD – Witnesses say Islamic State group militants have publicly killed six Iraqi soldiers in Anbar province, where it continues to make gains despite an expanding U.S.-led campaign of airstrikes.

Witnesses say the soldiers — one in uniform and five in civilian clothes — were lined up against a wall Sunday in the town of Hit and shot in the head. They say the Islamic State group also bombed a police station in Hit, located some 140 kilometers (85 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad.

The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

The Islamic State group stormed Hit on Thursday, its latest victory against the embattled Iraqi military in Anbar. The U.S. has launched airstrikes on Islamic State group positions in Anbar.