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Iraq Declares Ramadi Liberated from ISIL
[ALMANAR.LB] Iraq declared the city of Ramadi liberated from ISIL terrorist group on Monday and raised the national flag over its government complex after clinching a landmark victory against the "jihadists."Fighters brandishing rifles danced in the Anbar quiet provincial capital as top commanders paraded through the streets after recapturing the city they lost to ISIL in May. Pockets of Death Eaters may remain but the army said it no longer faced any resistance and that its main task was to defuse the countless bombs and traps ISIL left behind. "Ramadi has been liberated and the armed forces of the counter-terrorism service have raised the Iraqi flag above the government complex," Brigadier General Yahya Rasool announced on state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? The former government headquarters in Ramadi was the epicenter of the fighting but Iraqi forces did not rush in when ISIL pulled out because the entire area was rigged. "ISIL has planted more than 300 bombs on the roads and in the buildings of the government complex," said Brigadier General Majid al-Fatlawi of the army's 8th division. Several local officials said ISIL used civilians as human shields to escape the battle when it became clear their last stand in Ramadi was doomed. A senior army commander told AFP that his forces were still sweeping the outskirts of the city for potential pockets of Lion of Islams. ISIL had an estimated force of around 400 fighters to defend central Ramadi a week ago. It is not clear how many were killed and how many were able to pull back to positions outside the city. Posted by: Fred 2015-12-29 |
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