Iraqi forces liberate areas from Daesh in Ramadi

Iraqi forces have carried out successful military operations against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in and around the city of Ramadi, seizing a number of neighborhoods in the capital of Anbar Province.

Local media said Iraqi troops made gains in some fronts in Ramadi, which has been under the control of Daesh over the past months.

Sabah Karhoot, the provincial council chief of Anbar, said the Iraqi forces, comprising tribal fighters, the federal police and counter-terrorism special forces, liberated about 70 percent of Ramadi, Iraq’s Arabic news channel AlSumaria reported.

Iraqi intelligence said some 300 Daesh militants were in the city.

The Iraqi official said the air force played a crucial role in the latest operation as fighter jets targeted Daesh positions and cleared the path for ground troops. The Takfiri group began to lose the initiative amid shortages of ammunition and food after their last supply route was cut last month.

Ramadi has been under the control of Daesh since May. The city is located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Iraqi army soldiers and the Popular Mobilization Units are engaged in joint operations to take back regions held by Daesh in northern and western parts of the country.

Daesh began its offensive in Iraq in June 2014. The terrorists have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.

Pro-government forces have managed to push back the militants from some of their major bastions, including the cities of Tikrit and Baiji in the northern province of Salahuddin.