Iraqi forces inching closer to Ramadi center in major offen

[Anthea]

Rudaw

Iraqi security forces launched an offensive on Ramadi’s Humiryah sector today

According to military officials the troops are making their way towards the city centre. The troops are backed by US-led coalition air strikes.

"Our forces are advancing towards the government complex in the center of Ramadi," Sabah al-Numani, a spokesman for Iraq’s counter-terrorism units, according to Reuters. "The fighting is in the neighbourhoods and around the complex, with support from the air force," he continued.

The Iraqi intelligence has reported that the army is facing around 250-300 militants inside the city.

Residents were given a 48-hour deadline to evacuate the city through leaflets before the offensive kicked off, said Defense Ministry spokesman Nasir Nuri on state TV.

Nuri claimed that Islamic State (ISIS) militants had stopped civilians from leaving the city and used them as human shields.

Ramadi fell to ISIS last May. Since then the army, backed by Shiite militias and some Sunni tribal forces, has launched two major offensives to wrest control of the province from the extremist group.

On another front the Iraqi army is making advances into the city of Fallujah where a coalition air strike killed 9 soldiers last week in friendly fire.

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/221220152