ISIS Conflict - Iraqi Forces Launch Offensive Near Syria Border
The Iraqi military says it has launched a new offensive aimed at re-capturing western towns near the Syrian border from the jihadist group Islamic State.The operation will involve army and federal police units, along with tribal fighters. Their main targets are the towns of Aanah, Rawa and al-Qaim, which lie along the River Euphrates.
Last year, government forces drove IS out of much of Anbar province, retaking the major cities of Ramadi and Falluja. however large elements of the enormous desert vicinity continue to be under jihadist control.
the first target of the offensive is the metropolis of Aanah, about 240km (one hundred fifty miles) north-west of Baghdad.
"Our forces commenced advancing from Haditha towards Aanah from several instructions," Lt Gen Qassem Mohammedi, head of the military's Jazeera Operations Command, advised AFP information company on Thursday.
Troops then purpose to enhance westwards alongside the Euphrates towards Rawa and then al-Qaim, that is 330km from Baghdad and next to a key crossing on the border with Syria.
The offensive comes as government forces preserve to struggle IS militants for manipulate of the northern town of Mosul. On Wednesday, a senior Iraqi commander stated sixty five-70% of Japanese Mosul had been recaptured and that troops predicted to reach the banks of the River Tigris inside the city center within days.
Lt Gen Talib Shaghati, head of the elite Counter-Terrorism provider, advised Reuters information corporation that is had achieved loads of suicide automobile bomb assaults for the reason that assault began eleven weeks in the past in an try and keep on to its last most important city stronghold in Iraq.
A spokesman for the us-led multinational coalition assisting the offensive said troops had made massive progress given that launching a brand new segment on 29 December, when they started synchronizing assaults on 3 axes and the wide variety of coalition army advisers become doubled to approximately 450.
"What we're finding is that the synchronized attacks present the enemy with more problems than they can solve, and the Iraqi security forces are making progress with the continued benefit of coalition strikes and advisers," Col John Dorrian told reporters on Wednesday. However, the presence inside the city of hundreds of thousands of civilians continues to slow progress.
"There are more than 200,000 buildings in Mosul. And really, in order to do this properly, given the way that the enemy has conducted themselves, you end up having to clear each one," Col Dorrian said.
