Al-Obeidi: “We will regain control of Ramadi”

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Khaled Al-Obeidi, the Iraqi Defense Minister, predicted on Saturday that Iraqi forces will retake control of the provincial capital city of Ramadi by the end of December.

Ramadi is the capital of Anbar province which is geographically the largest province in Iraq. This town fell under Islamic State (IS) control in May. The fall of Ramadi is considered to be one of the biggest losses of the Iraqi Government against IS militants.

In a press conference held in Baghdad, Al-Obeidi declared that Iraqi forces plan to retake control of Ramadi city by the end of 2015. The minister referred to cooperation between Iraqi forces and the U.S.-led coalition forces in the Ramadi liberation operation.

The Iraqi minister also pointed out the reasons for the delay of Iraqi forces in liberating Ramadi. He identified damage limitation to the Iraqi forces as one of the main reasons for the delay in this operation. He said, “We have tried to suffer minimal casualties and collateral damage in confronting Islamic State (IS) militants.”

Al-Obeidi revealed they have devised a plan for the liberation of Mosul as well. He stated that the Iraqi forces are ready to participate in the operation of liberating Mosul. According to Al-Obeidi, the cost of arming Iraqi forces this year has topped to more than $600 million.

The minister also admired the role of Kurdistan Peshmerga and Hashdi Shabi militia in the war against the IS extremists.

Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting against IS, also previously announced, “Ramadi is completely isolated, and the Iraqi Forces have started to clear out the town."