![Members of Iraqi army are seen during the fight against Daesh militants in al-Ayadiya, northwest of Tal Afar, Iraq August 28, 2017 [Thaier Al-Sudani / Reuters]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/fighting-in-tal-afar.jpg?fit=940%2C634&ssl=1)
The Iraqi government launched an offensive early on Thursday to recapture from Daesh the western Iraqi towns of Rawa and al-Qaim close to the Syrian border, al-Arabiya television reported.
According to al-Arabiya the offensive was launched from three sides and both the international coalition and the Sunni tribes were assisting the joint operations forces in the attack.