Iraqi Military Has Just Liberated The City of Ramadi From ISIS

The Iraqi government has long been on the ropes in the fight against ISIS, and not too long ago the fall of Baghdad seemed like a very real possibility. It became clear to the world that Iraq was in serious trouble nearly two years ago, when ISIS first reached the city of Ramadi in significant numbers. Within another year, Iraqi forces had fled from the city, which is only 55 miles away from Baghdad.

Now they’ve taken it back, in what is being called the first major victory for the Iraqi military in the fight against ISIS. Though pockets of resistance still remain, the Iraqi military has raised their flag over a former government building in the center of the city. Officials from Anbar province have said that the area still needs to be cleared of booby traps, though they are optimistic about their current hold over the city, and that ISIS is no longer “capable of launching any attacks on the security forces”.

Though victory over the city hasn’t been officially declared, Prime Minister Al-Abadi seems to believe that a major turning point in the conflict has been reached. On Monday, he delivered a speech to the citizens of Iraq on state television, and proclaimed “2016 will be the year of the big and final victory, when Daesh’s presence in Iraq will be terminated.” He further added that “We are coming to liberate Mosul and it will be the fatal and final blow to Daesh.”