Iraq forces in Ramadi near victory

Iraqi security forces enter the heavy-damaged Huz neighbourhood in Ramadi (115 km west of Baghdad), Iraq, on Saturday. — AP

ISIS fighters pulled out of their last stronghold in Ramadi on Sunday, bringing Iraqi federal forces within sight of their biggest victory since the 2014 debacle.

The elite counter-terrorism service was hours away from moving into the former government complex in Ramadi, which the jihadists had fiercely defended for several days, the force’s spokesman said.

“All Daesh (ISIS) fighters have left. There is no resistance,” Sabah al-Numan told AFP. “The operation is almost wrapped up; our forces will enter in the coming hours.” He said a major clearing effort was needed to allow forces to move in because ISIS rigged the entire area with roadside bombs and booby traps.

For that reason, the military and government did not immediately declare victory, but some people were already celebrating on the streets of several cities.

After months of preparation, Iraqi forces back-ed by US-led coalition air strikes had punched into the centre of Ramadi on Tuesday, in a final push to retake the city they lost in May. The fighting over the past two days had been concentrated around the government complex, whose recapture had become synonymous with victory in the battle for Ramadi.

According to medical sources in Baghdad, 93 members of the security forces were brought in with injuries on Sunday alone.

“The dead bodies are taken directly to the main military hospital” near the airport, said one hospital source.

At least five government fighters have been killed over the past two days alone, but no official has divulged any overall toll for the operation.

Ramadi is the capital of the mainly Sunni Muslim Anbar province in the fertile Euphrates River valley, just two hours drive west of Baghdad.