On Tuesday, Iraqi state TV announced that armytroops, backed by Shia and Sunni volunteer forces, started the operations against Takfiri militants in Anbar province, which has been the scene of clashes since early 2014.
According to reports, Iraqi forces have already cut off aid routes to the militants during the operations, which aremainly meant to liberate Ramadi, the provincial capitalof Anbar.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Defense Ministry in a statement announced that 15 terrorists have been killed in the Anbars al-Harariat area.
According to the statement, the Iraqi army also dismantled at least 30 bombs and destroyed 10 booby-trapped houses.
Reports sayover 4,000 Shia volunteers are participating in the operation to liberate Salahuddin Province.
Iraqi Prime Minister Heidar al-Abadi on Tuesday pledged swift advances against ISIL terrorists. The security forces have surrounded the Takfiri ISIL members, he said.
A day earlier,Abadi said the countrys security forces have made great advances in their efforts to take Ramadi back from the ISIL terrorists, adding that the Arab country will recapture the central city within days.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
An Iraqi army member mans a tank on the outskirts of Baiji refinery north of Tikrit, on May 24, 2015. (AFP)[/caption]On the same day, Commander of the Anbar Operations Command, Major General Qasim al-Mohammadi, said that the Iraqi army hadcaptured at least 200 foreign terrorists in different areas across the restive western province.
ISIL militants seized someparts of Anbar in early 2014 and captured Ramadiearlier this month.
Meanwhile, Iraqi troopsand popular mobilization forces have recently pushed the Takfiri terrorists out of several cities.
The northern and western parts Iraq have been the scene of clashes since ISIL started its campaign of terror in the Arab country early June 2014.
By Press TV
