Iraqi forces launch major offensive to hunt down IS militants
(VOVWORLD) -Iraqi security forces on Sunday launched an offensive to root out remnants of Islamic State (IS) militants in the desert and rugged areas in the provinces of Anbar, Salahudin and Nineveh bordering Syria.
Iraqi soldiers and paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units, backed by Iraqi and international aircraft, began the first phase of the offensive in the early morning, and planned to continue it for several days.
Abdul Amir Rasheed Yarallah, deputy commander of the Joint Operations Command said the troops will push along in multiple routes in the three provinces to chase out the remnants of IS and destroy their hideouts.