A military spokesman announced Monday that Iraqi government forces as well as allied Shiite and Sunni militias have launched a major counteroffensive to retake much of Iraq's western Anbar province from Daesh, AP reported.
Spokesman for the Joint Operations Command, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool said in a televised statement that the military campaign had begun early Monday, leaving out details on whether the US-led international coalition is participating. In the past, the coalition has supported Iraqi forces and Shiite militias with airstrikes.
Several key towns in Anbar province, located west of Baghdad, remain under Daesh control, including stronghold Fallujah and the provincial capital Ramadi.
Security officials told AFP that Iraqi forces retook the villages of Albu Shijil and Shiha during Monday’s operations. An official from the area, Ibrahim al-Fahdawi, confirmed the towns had been recaptured from Daesh fighters.
Meanwhile, the predominantly Shiite militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (or Hashed al-Shaabi in Arabic) said they were advancing near Fallujah, which has been under Daesh control since early 2014, AFP reported.
While the Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces have been key in Iraq’s fight against Daesh, a number of Sunni recruits have recently begun training at a camp outside Ramadi in preparation to retake Anbar’s embattled capital city. It remains unclear what role the Sunni recruits are playing in the current counteroffensive across Anbar province.
Iraqi government forces and Popular Mobilization Forces previously announced in mid-May a military campaign to recapture much of Anbar province, after Daesh militants overran Ramadi following days of fierce clashes.
Tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee violence in Anbar province in recent months, as battles rage between Daesh and Iraqi forces. Many have attempted to enter neighboring Baghdad province for safety, but have been barred from crossing the Euphtrates river, which separates the two provinces.
