Iraq army declares win over Islamic State in provincial capital Ramadi

The city, and others in Anbar province, was the scene of fierce battles between USA military troops and IS’s predecessor, al-Qaeda in Iraq, during the years following the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

The US-led coalition, which was heavily involved in supporting Iraqi forces in Ramadi, also congratulated them on the success of an operation that began soon after they lost the city in May.

Analysts have questioned how long-lasting the Iraqi military’s newfound hold on the crucial city may be. The district in the city centre is the last refuge of the jihadists in Ramadi.

Sabah Noori, a spokesman for the Iraqi special forces, confirmed that counterterrorism forces had taken control of the complex.

On 27 December, the Iraqi army declared it had defeated dreaded terrorist group Islamic State in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. Commanders said IS extremists still controlled as much as three-quarters of the city as fighting progressed.

“The security forces have entered the governmental buildings and raised the Iraqi flags over them after killing many ISIS militants, and the rest have escaped”, Brigadier-General Yahya Rasool, an Iraqi military spokesman, said.

The Iraqi army had already retaken the city of Tikrit from the jihadists in the spring. IS militants control large swaths of the primarily Sunni province.

Al-Mahlawi confirm nor deny the many media reporting IS fighters had pulled out of the central government complex as night fell, but he quoted area residents telling his fighters IS militants had withdrawn from the adjacent neighborhood of Albu Alwan. But some officials have expressed doubt that the city can be secured that quickly. But more importantly, the recapture of Ramadi helps to redeem a military that was once disorganized and reluctant to confront IS.

“The enemy’s snipers are based on the roofs of houses with families”, said Maj. “We will chase them to end their evil totally”.

Maliki’s remarks contradicted earlier reports that the Shiite militia known as the popular mobilization forces (PMF) did not have a part in the offensive for the Sunni city. The city was taken by IS militants in May in a major blow to the government.