Iraq: Iraq army launches assault on ISIL to retake Anbar
Iraqi troops and Muslim militia forces attacked ISIL fighters on several fronts in the country’s largest province on Monday, saying the battle to drive the hardline militants out of Anbar was under way.
A spokesman for the joint operations command said the offensive, which began at dawn, brought together the army, mainly Hashid Shaabi militias, special forces, police and local Muslim tribal fighters.
Military sources in Anbar said they met fierce resistance from the insurgents, who deployed five suicide car bombs and fired rockets to repel their advance on the city of Falluja, about 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad.
There were also reports of fighting around the provincial capital Ramadi, captured by ISIL two months ago.