BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government began a long-awaited, large-scale military operation Monday to dislodge Islamic State militants from the country’s western Anbar province, a military spokesman announced.

The spokesman for the Joint Operations Command, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, said in a televised statement that the operation started at dawn and that government forces are backed by Shiite and Sunni pro-government fighters. Rasool didn’t say whether the U.S.-led international coalition is taking part.