In a major victory over the terror group Islamic State In Iraq, Security forces claim to have “full control” of central Ramadi city, which has been hotbed to terror group.
“We believe that we do have full control of the centre of Ramadi,” Muhannad Haimour, spokesman for the Anbar governor, told the BBC.
“But we’re being very careful in declaring victory until we have an official announcement from the prime minister’s office.”
A former government compound, where IS fighters had been holding out, has been retaken, Iraqi security sources say.
Ramadi, about 55 miles (90km) west of Baghdad, fell to ISIS in May, in an embarrassing defeat for the army, but has been recaptured after massive fight.
The provincial governor’s spokesman said there are still “pockets of resistance” in parts of the city, but they are ‘very weak’.
Iraq’s Vice President Nouri al-Maliki congratulated the armed forces and the people of Iraq on the liberation of Ramadi from Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
In a statement the former prime minister said that the army, anti-terrorism squad and the Iraqi air force inflicted a fatal blow to ISIS in Ramadi.
“We salute our heroes that returned the trust of their people and proved the power of success when the forces are united,” said Maliki.