The Iraqi forces retook the town of Husayba, which lies 7km east of Ramadi, Al-Etejeah TV reported.

The Iraqi forces retook the town of Husayba, which lies 7km east of Ramadi, Al-Etejeah TV reported.

Iraq’s volunteer groups have paticipated in liberating the western province of Anabr from the ISIL militant group. The Iraqi army and volunteers have launched a counteroffensive against ISIL after the group captured Anbar's provincial capital last week.  

Operations to liberate the militant-held city of Ramadi have commenced.

After the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi gave the volunteers the green light to enter the western province of Anbar, around three thousand fighters are now standing at the doorstep of Ramadi. Besides the volunteers, police, tribesmen, Special Forces, and army regulars have been deployed to take part in the battle against the ISIL terrorist group.

One of the volunteer factions, the Hezbollah Brigades, has also secured the nearby city of Khalidia after heavy clashes erupted with the militants a day earlier.