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Iraqi Forces Retake Islamic State Ramadi Stronghold

After several weeks of intense battle, Iraqi forces have retaken a former government compound in Ramadi from the Islamic State (ISIS) group. The militants had … Continue reading Iraqi Forces Retake Islamic State Ramadi Stronghold


iraqi forcesAfter several weeks of intense battle, Iraqi forces have retaken a former government compound in Ramadi from the Islamic State (ISIS) group.

The militants had been hiding out there, resisting an Army offensive. But a military spokesman said that the complex is now “under complete control” and there are no sign of ISIS fighters.

The military said that this heralds the defeat of ISIS in the city, though it admitted there could be pockets of resistance.

The mainly Sunni Arab city, 90km west of Baghdad, fell to ISIS in May, and was seen as an embarrassing defeat for the Army.

“We believe that we do have full control of the centre of Ramadi,” Muhannad Haimour, spokesman for the Anbar Governor, told the BBC.

“But we’re being very careful in declaring victory until we have an official announcement from the Prime Minister’s office.”

The spokesman described the remaining pockets of resistance as “very weak”.