Sat Dec 26, 2015 21:29:29
Iraq’s army troops backed by popular committees have liberated Zaviyah district in the north of Ramadi, Anbar Province, Iraq’s Summeriyah news channel announced on Saturday.
“The district is cleared from Daesh elements, but there are still bombs and booby traps remaining intact,” Major General Ismail al-Mahlawi, the commander of the Anbar Operation, said, adding that experts with the engineering unit of the army have already began demining streets and houses of Zaviyah.
The advance came just hours after the military and pro-government forces pushed their way into the Hoz neighborhood of Ramadi.
The latest round of operations for Ramadi began on December 22.
"Reports say the Iraqi forces are now only 800 meters (about half a mile) from the main government complex of Ramadi."
Military sources have declined to give a time frame for the final push to drive back militants from Ramadi, saying the campaign’s priority is to avoid casualties among civilians and the troops, no matter how long it takes.
The recapture of Ramadi, which was overrun by ISIS back in May, would represent one of the most significant victories achieved by the Iraqi military since ISIS started its acts of terror in the country in June 2014.
The Iraqi army subsequently plans to go for liberating Mosul, the major northern city that has been under the control of terrorists for over a year now, presstv reported.
O/A
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