More than 85% of Anbar province is now under the control of Iraqi forces and tribesmen, Anbar governor Sohaib al-Rawi told Diyaruna Monday (March 6th).
Police stations are being opened, and law and order is being enforced with the help of coalition forces and "unprecedented co-operation" from the civilian population, he said.
"Iraqi forces are preparing to launch a large-scale attack on the towns that are still under 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) control in the westernmost part of province," al-Rawi said.
These include al-Qaim, Anah and Rawah, "the group’s last strongholds”, he said.
“A large-scale relief plan and preparations are under way to receive the residents of those towns as battles kick off there,” he said.
“ISIL is living its last days in the province, and most of the residents have returned home, thanks to the Iraqi forces and their sacrifices over the past two years,” he added.
