Iraqi forces capture foothold in Ramadi

Source: USA Today

Iraq’s security forces have seized a key foothold inside Ramadi and are preparing a final assault to clear remaining Islamic State militants out of the key western Iraq city, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

“After a frustratingly long time, we are starting to see some movement in the operation to recapture Ramadi,” Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday. “There’s still tough fighting ahead.”

Iraq’s military seized a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city center and raised the Iraqi flag over a facility that once housed an Iraqi military operations center before it fell to the Islamic State in May.

Earlier, Iraqi forces sealed off most of the routes into the city center. A U.S.-led coalition has backed the Iraqi forces with airstrikes and training on how to clear minefields and other obstacles set up by militants.


Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/12/09/iraqi-forces-capture-foothold-ramadi/77049290/