Iraq starts operation to drive Islamic State from Anbar
Iraqi government forces have formally launched an operation to drive Islamic State (IS) out of Anbar province, the BBC reports.
The announcement was made by a spokesman for the Popular Mobilisation (al-Hashd al-Shaabi), a volunteer force comprising dozens of Shia militias.
The operation would see troops and militiamen move southwards from Salahuddin province and seek to cut off IS militants in Ramadi, he said.
The provincial capital fell to IS this month after Iraq's army withdrew.
Since then government forces have been massing for a counter-attack, and they say they have regained some ground east of Ramadi in the past few days.
On Tuesday, fighting was reported south and west of Ramadi, as the Iraqi forces tried to cut off supply routes to the city.