Video footage has been released showing Iraqs military flying the countrys flag in the centre of Ramadi after routing Isis fighters from the city.
Around 10,000 Iraqi soldiers have been fighting to retake Ramadi, located about 130km (80 miles) west of Baghdad. The capture of the city, capital of the mainly Sunni-Muslim Anbar province, deprives IS militants of their biggest prize of 2015. The fighters seized the city in the Euphrates River valley, west of the capital, in May after government troops fled in a defeat.
After encircling the city for weeks, the Iraqi military launched a campaign to retake it last week, and made a final push to seize the central administration complex on 27 December. In footage shown on Iraqi TV on 28 December troops, Humvee vehicles and tanks can be seen advancing through the streets of the city before soldiers raise the Iraq flag and dance in celebration.
Despite claims that Ramadin has been fully liberated, the Iraqs General Ismail al-Mahlawi. states that parts of the city still remain under the control of Islamic State. Isis fighters have retreated from about 70% of the city but still control the rest, with Government forces not in full control of many districts from which Daesh have retreated, according to an AP report.
Iraqs government said the next target after Ramadi will be the northern city of Mosul, by far the largest population centre controlled by Isis in either Iraq or Syria.
