Iraqi Army have launched a counter-offensive to recover Anbar province which was recently captured by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Reporters in Baghdad said on Tuesday that the first city likely to face an assault from the Iraqi forces, made up of government soldiers and Shia militias, is Anbar's capital Ramadi which fell to ISIL fighters earlier this month.
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| Many tribal leaders in Anbar have voiced concerns that the inclusion of Shia militias in the fight could cause sectarian divisions in the province. |
"This is likely to be a very protracted battle - but it is under way," our correspondent reported, adding that the battle to control the major highways in the province would be key.
Battalions of government troops and fighters from allied Shia militias under the Popular Mobilization Forces banner have been regrouping at the Habbaniyah military base in preparation for the counter-offensive since Ramadi fell on May 17.
Since the Ramadi take over by ISIL, US and Iraq have been trading words over who was to blame for the failure to maintain control of the provincial capital, which had been just a few towns and cities to remain under government control in mainly Sunni Anbar.
Source: Aljazeera
Photo Credit: AFP, The Hill Talk, Ya LIBNAN
