1st LD: Iraq declares key victory against IS in Ramadi

Iraqi security forces on Monday declared victory over the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's western province of Anbar.

The troops "have retook control of Ramadi after liberating its district one by one, and raised the Iraqi flag on the government complex," the Iraqi military said in a statement, but did not give details about whether there was any district left in the hands of IS militants.

A provincial security source told Xinhua that after capturing the government complex, the troops continued their fighting against IS militants in some pockets inside the city, while explosive experts are defusing a large number of landmines and booby-trapped vehicles and buildings.

Last Tuesday, Iraq's Joint Operations Command announced that the security forces launched a major offensive in Ramadi and managed to seize the districts of al-Bakr, Dhubbat and Aramel, in southwestern part of the city after fierce clashes with IS affiliates.

On Saturday, Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said "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 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 wipe out IS elements from Ramadi.

The troops have been fighting for months to retake key cities and towns in Anbar, Iraq's largest province, from IS militants who have seized most of Anbar and tried to advance towards Baghdad. Endit