Iraqi forces advance into last IS-held districts in Ramadi

Iraqi armed forces have advanced into the last remaining district held by Islamic State group in the city of Ramadi despite counter-attacks by the militant extremists.

MENA

2 min read

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26 December, 2015

Displaced Iraqi families desperately await news of their return to Ramadi [AFP]

Iraqi forces have advanced further into the last remaining district held by IS in the city of Ramadi, a senior army officer told �� on Saturday.

Advances were made overnight in al-Huz neighbourhood, which housed the provincial government complex and the town's police station.

"Coalition airstrikes helped detonate explosive devices and booby-trapped houses, facilitating our advance," said the officer.

The progress of Iraqi forces into Ramadi has been slowed by bombs and booby traps.

"The campaign's priority is to avoid casualties among civilians and the troops, no matter how long it takes," the officer said.

The offensive to retake the central district, which started on Tuesday, is set to last several days according to Iraqi military officials.

Displaced families from Anbar province currently living in refugee camps all over Iraq are eagerly waiting to return.

Recent army advances in Ramadi have raised their hopes.

"We are fixated on the events in Ramadi," Fadel Abbass al-Awayni, currently living in a refugee camp in Baghdad, told ��.

"Everyone here is praying for the liberation of our city," said Awayni "You will see people breaking into tears as soon as they hear good news on television about the advances made by the Iraqi forces and the retreat of IS [group]".

"All the displaced people of Ramadi want to return as soon as their city is completely liberated," Awayni asserted.

Recapturing Ramadi will be one of the Iraqi ground forces' most prominent victories since 2014, when the IS group swept across a third of the country.

After Ramadi, Iraq's armed forces plan to retake the major northern city of Mosul from IS group.

"The liberation of Mosul will be achieved with the cooperation and unity of all Iraqis after the victory in Ramadi," Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Friday.