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Iraqi security forces take part in an intensive security deployment against Islamic State militants in Adhaim, a village in Diyala province north of Baghdad November 13, 2014. Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called for attacks in Saudi Arabia, said his Caliphate was expanding across the Arab world and called for "volcanoes of jihad" across the globe in a speech purported to be in his name on Thursday. Picture taken November 13, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer REUTERS/Stringer

At least 45 people have reportedly been burned alive by the extremists ISIS in Iraq on Tuesday. The burning occurred in the western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, which was just 8km (5 miles) away from an air base holding hundreds of United States Marines.

Colonel Qasim al-Obeidi, chief of local Iraqi police, told the BBC they have yet to establish the identity of the victims and the reason behind their gruesome deaths. Al-Obeidi theorised they could have been murdered because some were believed to be members of the Iraqi security forces. He added it is difficult to confirm the reports because of the turmoil and poor communications in the area.

Al-Obeidi said the homes of security officers were under attack earlier in the week, including the homes of some local Iraqi officials. In a report, Al Jazeera said the charred remains of 30 people had been found in Al-Baghdadi.

ISIS fighters captured Al-Baghdadi on Thursday. “It had been one of the few towns to still be controlled by the Iraqi government in Anbar province, where IS and allied Sunni Arab tribesmen launched an offensive in January 2014,” BBC said. The town is near the Ain al-Asad airbase air base, where over 300 U.S. Marines are housed to train members of the Iraqi army's 7th Division. The base had been the recipient of a series of suicide bombings early in February, but it managed to quash the attacks.

Rear Admiral John Kirby, Pentagon spokesman, downplayed the fall and capture of Al-Baghdadi in a news conference on Friday. He described the unfortunate incident as a minor setback. "We do assess that right now they have control of Al-Baghdadi."

Wearing Iraqi army uniforms, a group of 20 to 25 ISIS fighters stormed towards the base, intent to carry out a series of suicide bombings. All died upon detonation of their suicide bombs. Kirby said that no U.S. troops were hurt in the incident because they were located somewhere else at the sprawling complex.

A local tribal leader told CNN on Saturday that Iraq’s forces in Anbar province, where al-Baghdadi is located, could already “collapse within hours.” Another tribal leader said the ISIS has “deployed snipers on the top of buildings and they are shooting everyone trying to get out.” Al-Baghdadi has about 50,000 residents. The tribal leader fears a “massacre” will occur if support does not arrive.