Updated: Iraqi forces free IS-held regions in western Anbar
Iraqi army forces entering Kirkuk to retake the province from Kurdish troops.
An offensive was launched to liberate IS-held regions in western Anbar, a commander announced earlier on Saturday.
“Troops of Al-Jazeera Operations Command and the Tribal Mobilization Forces launched a wide-scale offensive to liberate al-Rummana and Rawa regions,” Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Upper Euphrates and Jazeera Combing Operations, said in a statement.
In related news, a security source said troops managed to invade al-Rummana from several directions.
Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said, “the seventh and eighth army divisions and the tribal forces invaded al-Rummana in Anbar.”
“The forces, backed by the U.S.-led Coalition and army jets, resume their advance,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.
The Joint Operations Command denied on Wednesday launching clearance operations in Rummana, warning media agencies from reporting news that harms the military plans of the operations.
Hussein al-Okaidi, mayor of Rawa, said on Saturday that operations in Rawa will not launch before three days at least to eradicate the sleeper cells and end the militants presence in al-Rummana village.
Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced on Friday liberation of Qaim in record time. Troops also freed Ebeidi and Krabla regions in western Anbar.
Operations were launched, late October, to liberate Qaim and Rawa towns. Both have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic “Caliphate”.