Ramadi: Anti-Daesh forces close to victory

BAGHDAD: Daesh terrorists pulled out of their last stronghold in Ramadi Sunday, bringing Iraqi federal forces within sight of their biggest victory since last year’s debacle.
Ramadi lies about 100 km west of Baghdad and is the capital of Anbar, which is Iraq’s largest province and borders Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
A victory there would help boost Iraq’s military, which collapsed when Daesh took over large parts of the country in June 2014.
The elite counter-terrorism service was hours away from moving into the former government complex in Ramadi, which the terrorists had fiercely defended for several days, the force’s spokesman said.
“All Daesh fighters have left. There is no resistance,” Sabah Al-Numan said. “The operation is almost wrapped up.”
He said a major clearing effort was needed to allow forces to move in because Daesh 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.
Ali Dawood, the head of the Khaldiya council, said Daesh terrorists used civilians as human shields to slip out of the government complex.
“Daesh terrorists forced all the families living around the compound to go with them in order to flee toward Sichariyah, Sufiya and Jweiba,” on the eastern outskirts of Ramadi, he said.