Iraqi forces have launched an offensive to drive Islamic State militants out of the country′s western Anbar province.
A spokesman for a Shia militia group says government troops and Shia militias plan to move southwards and cut off IS militants in Ramadi.
The strategically－important city of 500－thousand people fell to the Islamic State earlier this month after Iraq′s army downed their weapons and fled.
The new offensive has been welcome by the U.S. government，... despite some concerns the use of Shia militias in mostly Sunni areas might raise sectarian tensions.
Earlier this week，... U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had accused Iraqi forces of not having the will to fight IS.
