Iraqi forces gain ground inside IS-held Ramadi

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 anti-terrorism troops, backed by Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition aircraft, began their advance from several directions into the central part of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, and after fierce clashes by the end of the day, the troops managed to seize the districts of al-Bakr, Dhubbat and Aramel, in southwestern part of the city, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The battles in the three districts resulted in the killing of at least 35 IS militants and the capture of 14 others, the source said without giving details about casualties among the troops.

The troops also made an advance on the main road of Jeriyshi area in northern Ramadi, leaving 13 IS militants killed and eight others injured, the source added.

Separately, five security members were killed and nine others injured in a rocket barrage by IS militants on a military base in Adnaniyah district in western Ramadi, the source said.

Meanwhile, 14 IS militants were killed in air strike by international warplanes on two IS positions in Huseiba al-Sharqiya area, some 35 km east of Ramadi, he added.

Earlier in the day, the Joint Operations Command said in a brief statement that the troops launched a major offensive to complete the capture of Ramadi and advanced into the city from several directions.

On Saturday, Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said that "Iraqi forces are close to free Ramadi" and pledged that "during the next days, Iraqi forces will free the IS-held territories in the provinces of Anbar, as well as Salahudin and Nineveh."

The latest offensive came as the security forces have recently made significant advance in Ta'mim district in southern Ramadi and several areas on the edges of the city as part of their efforts to flush out IS militants from Ramadi.

The troops have been fighting for months to retake control of key cities and towns in Iraq's largest province of Anbar from the IS militants, who have seized most of Anbar and tried to advance towards Baghdad.
  Xinhua -china.org.cn
  23/12/15
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