Iraqi forces claim the battle for Ramadi is almost won
- 8 years ago
Iraqi police say government forces have recaptured more than 90 percent of Ramadi from ISIL militants.
The US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes across the region, while specially-trained anti-terror troops have been moving street-by-street on the ground to force out the jihadists.
Ramadi, the capital of the vast Anbar Province, lies just over 100 kilometres west of Baghdad.
Its fall to ISIL in May was a major blow to a government struggling to claw back territory from the group.
The advance has been slow, with security forces hindered by snipers and suicide bombers.
However, Iraqi officials say the operation marks the most significant progress made by the military in seven months and they hope to have full control over the city by the end of the week.
If they are successful, it will be the second major city to be retaken from the militants after Tikrit.
Iraqi troops storm into center of Islamic State-held Ramadi https://t.co/dd9ZSYrwbc pic.twitter.com/6BB6eO8VS6—
The US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes across the region, while specially-trained anti-terror troops have been moving street-by-street on the ground to force out the jihadists.
Ramadi, the capital of the vast Anbar Province, lies just over 100 kilometres west of Baghdad.
Its fall to ISIL in May was a major blow to a government struggling to claw back territory from the group.
The advance has been slow, with security forces hindered by snipers and suicide bombers.
However, Iraqi officials say the operation marks the most significant progress made by the military in seven months and they hope to have full control over the city by the end of the week.
If they are successful, it will be the second major city to be retaken from the militants after Tikrit.
Iraqi troops storm into center of Islamic State-held Ramadi https://t.co/dd9ZSYrwbc pic.twitter.com/6BB6eO8VS6—