IS controls 20 percent of Ramadi
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) - Iraqi security forces have been able to retake 80 percent of the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State though ongoing battles are still ongoing with the militants around the stadium and 20th Avenue.
Anbar police commander, Brigadier Hadi Rzij announced in a press conference that “Iraqi security forces and a large number of tribal fighters have been able to secure 80 percent of Ramadi.”
The police commander said that they cannot announce the complete liberation of Ramadi as IS still controls some areas within the city.
Salam Hussein, commander of the Iraqi anti-terror forces said on Monday that “Our engineering teams are clearing bombs planted by IS militants in Dolphin Square near the Ramadi hospital.” Iraqi sources announced that IS militants destroyed some parts of the Ramadi hospital, detonating explosives today in an attempt to halt anti-terror units advances seeking to retake the rest of IS-held areas.
On Tuesday, IS militants launched major multi-pronged attacks on Iraqi security forces in Haditha, Hit, and Barwanah, north of Ramadi, and along the Euphrates river. IS was able to take control of some parts of Barwanah, but the attack was eventually repelled as the army brought reinforcements and U.S.-led coalition warplanes bombed IS targets. Coalition spokesman, Steve Warren announced on Tuesday that IS militants launched a major attack on both cities but “they are no longer a threat, as coalition fighter jets and the Iraqi army killed more than hundreds IS militants.”
On December 28, 2015, the Iraqi government announced that the army had retaken the strategically important city of Ramadi, after seven months of being occupied by the Islamic State.