A total of 45 fighters affiliated with the so-called ’Islamic State of Iraq and Levant’ (ISIL) terrorist group have been killed in western Iraq within the last two days

A total of 45 fighters affiliated with the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and Levant' (ISIL) terrorist group have been killed in western Iraq within the last two days, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said.

In a Tuesday statement, the ministry said that two foreign nationals – an Afghan and a Syrian – had been among those killed.

The Iraqi army is currently carrying out a major military operation in Iraq's violence-stricken Anbar province.

According to the government, the campaign aims to flush ISIL fighters out of the area.

Recent months have seen an uptick in violence across Iraq.

Although most attacks go unclaimed, Iraqi authorities usually blame Al-Qaeda-linked armed militiamen.