The Iraqi army claimed to have driven out so-called "Islamic State" militants from two villages in the Euphrates Valley in the west of the country as part of their continuing efforts to eliminate jihadists from the region.

"...This morning operations to liberate Anbar were launched," a spokesman for the Joint Operations Command, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, said in a televised statement. "Your armed forces, Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization), special operations, federal police and tribesmen, are engaging in the liberation operations and advancing towards the set targets."

Rasool did not comment on whether US forces were taking part.

The joint military forces of Iraq in cooperation with local Shia and Sunni militants, collectively called the Hashed al-Shaabi, have been fighting IS around Fallujah for months leading up to this latest effort.

The military had announced efforts to retake Anbar several times, most recently after IS militants seized the province's capital, Ramadi, in May. Ramadi remains under IS control.

"The security forces were able to advance and liberate the areas of Albu Shijil and Shiha near Khaldiyah, between Saqlawiya and Ramadi," an army lieutenant colonel said and added that IS forces were trapped in Fallujah, further east of Anbar.

The "Islamic State" has held parts of Anbar since 2014.

mes/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters)