Displaced Ramadi residents begin to return home

RAMADI, Iraq – Dozens of displaced persons in Ramadi have returned to their homes following the Iraqi liberation of the city in December of last year and the subsequent clearing of mines in the city a Rudaw correspondent reported.

“Roads have been cleared of bombs and rubble to allow people to return to their homes. Police have also helped return people to safe parts of the city," Mohammad Shalal, the head of Habbaniyah Police, told Rudaw.

Happy that their city is secure from the ISIS threat locals have pledged to help the security forces prevent ISIS from ever retaking Ramadi. 

“Thanks to God we have returned to our homes. We are happy to be with our relatives and in our homes again. We will help security forces prevent ISIS from ever coming back here." Diya Ahmad a refugee from Ramadi told Rudaw.

“The first group of displaced families returned their homes today. Another group is also returning to their homes in Ramadi's east. We saw families who are happy to be returning home," Rashid Flayaah, commander in chief of Hash al-Ashaeer, told Rudaw. “This is both a confirmation of the security forces’ success and of ISIS's failure.”

ISIS seized Ramadi on May 17 last year, in what is considered one of the jihadists’ most important victories. Large swaths of Anbar, including Fallujah, fell to ISIS fighters in January 2014.