ISIL 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
ISIL 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.
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 (ISIL) 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 ISIL 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.
Earlier on Sunday, Iraqi troops were getting ready for a final push to take the remaining district occupied by ISIL in the city of Ramadi, army spokesmen said.
The soldiers are within 300 meters (330 yards) of the provincial government compound, the target of the attack they launched on Tuesday, Sabah al-Numani, a spokesman for the counter-terrorism force that is leading the fight on the government side, said earlier on Sunday.
"We expect to reach the compound in the next 24 hours," he told Reuters. "Booby trapped houses and roadside bombs are all over the streets, they have to be cleared; air surveillance is helping detect car bombs and suicide bombers before they get to us." Ramadi is the capital of the mainly Sunni Muslim Anbar province in the fertile Euphrates River valley, just two hours drive west of Baghdad.
Recapturing Ramadi, which fell to the militants in May, would be one of the most significant victories for Iraq's armed forces since ISIL swept across a third of the country in 2014.
Officials said it would be handed over to the local police and to a Sunni tribal force once secured.
