A new military operation has kicked off to clear around 70 kilometres of desert and rural areas between Fallujah and Samarra of "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) remnants, the Anbar Operations Command said Thursday (November 15th).

"The army, supported by security units, kicked off a military operation in search of terrorist activities or ISIS hideouts in the desert between Fallujah and Samarra," commander Maj. Gen. Mahmoud al-Falahi told Diyaruna.

"Iraqi forces are seeking to deny ISIS any respite and prevent its elements from achieving a permanent presence in any area," he said.

"One rocket launcher and one cache containing weapons, dry food supplies, medicines and documents, were seized in the first hours of the operation," he said.

A fuel tanker believed to be used for supplying ISIS cells with fuel was also seized, he said, adding that seven men were arrested and are being interrogated.

"No specific date has been set for the end of the operation which aims to make the area between Fallujah and Samarra safe and secure," he said.