Iraq’s army and allied paramilitaries attacked ISIL terrorist group positions around Ramadi Tuesday in their latest push to recapture the Anbar capital from the jihadists, commanders said.

Iraq's army and allied paramilitaries attacked ISIL terrorist group positions around Ramadi Tuesday in their latest push to recapture the Anbar capital from the jihadists, commanders said.

The authorities announced a major offensive to "liberate Anbar" on Monday.

"The Iraqi army and the Hashed al-Shaabi are pounding ISIL positions with rockets and mortar rounds east, west and south of Ramadi," a senior army officer said.

Ramadi is the capital of Anbar, a province which is largely under ISIL control. It is traversed by the Euphrates and stretches from the borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the outskirts of Baghdad.

Iraqi forces had resisted ISIL attacks for almost a year and half when they retreated in the face of a spectacular onslaught in mid-May.

Operations have been on ongoing across Anbar for months, and Iraqi forces have recently attempted to sever ISIL supply lines by moving in from provinces, including Salaheddin to the northeast.

Officers said advances achieved on Monday would further isolate Fallujah, which lies about half way between Ramadi and Baghdad, and allow anti-ISIL forces to better organize supplies and reinforcements.