The Iraqi military says it has launched a new offensive aimed at re-capturing western towns near the Syrian border from the jihadist group Islamic State. The operation will involve army and federal police units, along with tribal fighters. <br/><br/>Their main targets are the towns of Aanah, Rawa and al-Qaim, which lie along the River Euphrates. The offensive comes as government forces continue to battle IS militants for control of the northern city of Mosul. Last year, government forces drove IS out of much of Anbar province, retaking the major cities of Ramadi and Falluja. But large parts of the vast desert region remain under jihadist control.