ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The military campaign to push the Islamic State group out of Sunni-majority Anbar Province has been launched, a member of the provincial council has told Rudaw.

“Military operations to liberate towns and cities of Anbar province has started in Sajariya district, west of Ramadi, capital of Anbar province,” said Sabah Karhut, head of Anbar provincial council, on Wednesday.

“Iraqi security forces, local police, anti-terror forces and at least 10,000 tribal gunmen with air support from the coalition are participating in Anbar province,” Karhut added.

According to Anbar officials, at least 80 percent of the province is currently under the control of ISIS militants.

The Iraqi Army, Kurdish Peshmerga, Shiite militiamen and volunteers from Sunni tribes are all engaged in the fight against ISIS in different parts of Iraq.

Rudaw