The security media cell in Iraq announced the start of the fifth phase of the military operation, called "the will of victory", and with the support of Iraqi and international coalition aircraft near the Iraqi-Saudi border.

The deputy commander of operations, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid, said that the operation, which began at dawn today, is aimed at clearing and pursuing IS cells in the desert of Anbar province, west of the country, through Karbala and Najaf, south of Baghdad, to the Iraqi-Saudi border.

The operation comes a day after Iraq denies using its territory to attack oil sites inside Saudi territory.

In July, the Joint Operations Command launched the first phase of the security operation to pursue ISIS operatives in the areas around Baghdad, Ninewa, Salah al-Din governorates in northern Iraq, Anbar and Diyala, east of Baghdad, to the Iraqi-Syrian border.