Iraqi security forces gather to advance towards the centre of Ramadi city, December 25, 2015. © Reuters
Long War Journal: Iraqi military retakes center of Ramadi from Islamic State
The Iraqi military, backed by tribal fighters and US airstrikes, regained control of the government center and main neighborhoods in Ramadi from the Islamic State after a week of heavy fighting. Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, fell to the Islamic State in May after Iraqi forces based there fled their posts.
“The [government] complex is under our complete control, there is no presence whatsoever of Daesh [Islamic State] fighters in the complex,” Sabah al Numani, a spokesman for the Iraqi military coalition charged with retaking Ramadi, told Reuters.
The Islamic State has been “defeated in Ramadi” and that “the next step is to clear pockets that could exist here or there in the city,” Numani said.
More News On Reports That Iraqi Forces have retaken A Key ISIS Stronghold In Ramadi
Iraqi army declares victory over Islamic State in Ramadi -- Reuters
Iraqi forces 'retake Islamic State Ramadi stronghold' -- BBC
Iraqi forces push ISIS out of government compound in Ramadi -- CNN
Iraqi forces capture main government compound in Ramadi -- Washington Post
Islamic State Militants Flee Ramadi Stronghold Amid Iraqi Offensive -- WSJ
Iraqi forces declare victory after 'seizing Islamic State stronghold in Ramadi' -- The Telegraph
Iraqi forces 'seize key base in Ramadi from Isis' -- The Guardian
Iraqi forces take control over last ISIS stronghold in Ramadi - military spokesman -- RT
4 comments:
I dunno, I still say something isn't right. Putting that aside re the above photo: None of these guys look they have or could fight a lick. There are two US personnel present, maybe more. The picture was taken either in the early morning or late day, actual day unknown. 500 or so ISIS hard cores just don't vanish into thin air. If the guys in the pic had run over them with toe to toe fighting backed up by close air support, they'd showing all kinds of bodies and destroyed positions. My guess this is far from over and ISIS will make the next week very interesting, say around late Tuesday night to early Wednesday morning.
James:
I also have my doubths about the city has been retaken, and how accurate this news is. The videos showed fightings in Huz district, which is fit well to the picture, but the government buildings are placed north of that district along a W-E main road. But the offensive begun from the south side, so this only would make half the city been taken. Sure there could have been operations or moves which did not got public attention, or not. By the way, it's worth a mention that media coverage (photos and videos) of the fighting was bad, compared to other operations, like they not really want to show how they fight. I could not blame them for doing so, everyone who has some sense would keep their fighting tactics in secret as much as possible (exlude the promo videos). But still, not much footages coming.
About the picture with the damaged bridge on it, it's started to apear on the net around 26 so it's a recent one, but the units on it are different. The quality of forces whos fighting on the side of Iraq are very different. They may not born to kill, but are usefull to do the simple things, guard areas which are less important, support, do logistic/engineering/repairing style stuffs, and let those fight who were trained better. As you said probably most of them from the picture are not 'warrior', 9 out of 10 may would drop his weapon when the enemy come, but they are there, doing the part they could, and thats what matter.I do not expect any counter attack by IS in that area (not in or outside the city), but who knows. Hopefully some news channel will get into the city in the next days.
mlacix,
If the Iraqs can hold their gains (and even expand them) into next week I'll start becoming a believer. As far as the news videos go, I think if they were having a lot of success they would be shouting it from the mountain tops and you would see alot of prisoners taken, weapons captured, and positions destroyed. I understand operational security, but this conflict by it's nature has a very high propaganda percentage. As far as counter attack, if ISIS can do it, I'd watch for Tuesday night early Wednesday. It would give ISIS enough time to regroup, stage their forces, and they would have bad weather for some cover. I know that the US has all weather capability, but overcast is overcast.
It was on CBC ... I watched the same thing .... but the details were brief.
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