Gains in Iraqi city vindicate US-led strategy, at high cost

Three mortar rounds then landed some 500 meters from Abadi’s location.

The map posted by Colonel Steve Warren showed areas cleared by Iraqi security forces in green.

Abadi had arrived in Ramadi by helicopter.

In the centre of Ramadi, which lies on the Euphrates river, ‘there are five bridges in various states of destruction, ‘ USA operations officer Major Michael Filanowski said Wednesday.

During his visit Abadi met soldiers at the main government complex captured by counter-terrorism forces on December 28 and planted the tri-colour flag outside the building.

He had announced the visit to Ramadi himself on Twitter and declared Thursday a national holiday in celebration.

On the heels of other victories against the Islamic State in the Iraqi cities of Sinjar, Bayji, Tikrit, the victory in Ramadi suggests a blueprint may be emerging on how the Iraqi government and the global military coalition partnered with it can taken control of Mosul, Fallujah and other Iraqi population centers still controlled by militants.

He said at its peak there were up to 1,000 IS fighters in Ramadi, and that only 150-250 remain.

Haider al-Abadi triumphant after army takes centre of key city, but questions raised whether Ramadi can now be held.

“He is excited about this victory, because he managed to remove this blot from his historical record as commander-in-chief of the armed forces”, said Hashimi.

The United Nations estimates initial reconstruction needs in Ramadi require about $20 million, but the longer term costs are likely to be much greater for a city battered by USA air strikes and ISIS explosives over the past six months. But he has faced resistance to dismantling a patronage system and rooting out incompetence in the security apparatus and other state organs.

Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Belawi said “heavy and concentrated airstrikes” by the U.S.-led coalition killed IS fighters, destroyed their vehicles and blew up suicide auto bombs before they could be deployed, allowing his forces to advance into the city. But he said that it does not appear that the Islamic State has the combat power to take back the government center.

It said its advisers were not on the ground in Ramadi but had provided training and equipment to Iraqi forces.

The U.S. and Britain have stepped up their military involvement in Iraq and Syria in order to combat militant group, ISIS.

His government plans to hand over Ramadi to local police and a Sunni tribal force once it is secured, to encourage Sunnis to resist ISIS, which is made up of hardline Sunnis.

While the earlier Sunni tribal force numbered in the tens of thousands, only a few thousand fighters have so far been prepared to operate in Ramadi this time.