Capture of Ramadi ‘inevitable — U.S. military

The Iraqi security forces on Tuesday retook control of three districts in the city of Ramadi, as part of major offensive to capture of the city from the Islamic State (IS) militants, a provincial security source said.

The Shiite-dominated Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary forces were heavily involved in battles that led to the recapture of towns such as Tikrit and Baiji, but they have remained on the fringes in the battle for the Sunni city of Ramadi.

Iraqi forces announced a counteroffensive shortly after Mosul fell, but progress has been sluggish.

Ramadi is Iraq’s capital city and sports the largest population in the country. “We’re encouraged by this tactical development”, he said.

Forces were “clearing houses” in the area, it added. The troops are working alongside Sunni tribal fighters and militiamen – against the Sunni extremists of Islamic State. It was a USA military hub during the 2003-2011 war.

The colonel said coalition airpower delivered 33 munitions in direct support of offensive operations in Ramadi in the last 24 hours.

“We are very optimistic that we will achieve victory in the next few days, because we are already in the center”, said Brig. Gen. Yehya Rasool, an Iraqi military spokesman.

There is some cause for optimism this time, as several weeks of reports from the Middle East have insisted the coalition campaign against ISIS oil intensified significantly after the Paris terror attack. I think we have many forces on the ground who are fighting Daesh.

Since over-running Ramadi, Islamic State has destroyed all the bridges around the city.

Iraqi security forces took control of al-Bakr district in southern Ramadi and raised the Iraqi flag on one of the district’s buildings, Brigadier General Jamal al-Delimi told Anadolu Agency.

Police forces also claimed advances Tuesday on Ramadi’s eastern side.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi military said it has fully secured the Albu Dhiab and Jarayshi neighborhoods north of the city.

“The fall of Ramadi is inevitable”. To back up the bridge assault, USA warplanes conducted 33 airstrikes within the last 24 hours, he said. It had been pounding the city at the same pace for the past month. It also demolished the Anbar operations command and fanned out into the city’s residential areas to set up less conspicuous centers of command.

Local forces have made gains against the militant group elsewhere in Iraq in recent months.

Iraqi intelligence estimates there are up to 300 IS militants in Ramadi, located about 55 miles west of Baghdad.

“The worldwide coalition played a major role today in protecting Iraqi forces”, Mahlawi said.

They were heading towards the main government complex, and had come up against snipers and suicide bombers.