Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi forces are clearing the road to a second Islamic State haven in western Anbar preparing for a military offensive to recapture it, a local official was quoted saying.
Rageh al-Eissawi, a member of Anbar province council’s security commission, said in a statement that security forces launched wide-scale combing operations at roads leading to the town of Rawa preparing for an invasion against Islamic State militants.
He said the operations coincided with intensive air raids on the area by Iraqi warplanes.
Bomb squads are also clearing roadside bombs planted by the militants at those areas, Eissawi added.
Iraqi army forces on Thursday completely took over the town of Annah, just two days after operations launched to free western Anbar from IS.