‘Strategic’ area of Ramadi recaptured by Iraqi army: reports

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi forces have reclaimed a strategic northern area in the ISIS-held city of Ramadi, inflicting heavy damage and casualties on the militants, an Iraqi official said.

"On Monday, Iraqi counter-terrorism forces managed to reclaim the Qazani complex in northern Ramadi from the Islamic state," said Azal Fahdawi, member of the Anbar provincial council, adding that the facility was of strategic importance to the militants.

"The complex is strategic due to its proximity to the Anbar operation command; we can now prevent any possible assault by ISIS in the area,” media reports quoted Fahdawi as saying.

In other military developments against ISIS, official sources from the Anbar police told Rudaw Sunday that Iraqi security forces with the support of tribal militias and US coalition airstrikes have taken over the Ramadi train station and killed several militants.

“US coalition warplanes have targeted several ISIS strongholds in the Harrayat district, which resulted in the death of several ISIS militants,” said sources, who were not identified.

Meanwhile, Eid Amash, a spokesperson of the Anbar provincial council, told Rudaw on Saturday: “Iraqi security forces managed to take control of the police emergency shelter after hours of clashes with the Islamic State organization in northern Ramadi and several districts of southern Ramadi."

Some 10,000 Iraqi soldiers, policemen, militiamen of the Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi and tribal forces have been fighting to clear Anbar province from ISIS since June. They have not managed to make any significant advances into ISIS-held areas, because several operations to take back the province have been repulsed by ISIS.