Iraqi forces advance on remaining Isis fighters in Ramadi

Iraqi soldiers plant the national flag over a government building in Ramadi as security forces advance towards Isis positions (AP)

Iraq’s armed forces claimed to have penetrated the centre of Ramadi today in an attempt to drive Isis fighters from their remaining stronghold in the city, which they first captured in May.

The operation to recapture the Sunni city on the Euphrates, 60 miles west of Baghdad, which began last month, had already resulted in Ramadi being almost entirely encircled by government forces, backed by limited air strikes.

Iraqi soldiers advance their position in northern Ramadi (AP)

Progress has been slow because the government wants to rely entirely on its own troops and not use Shia militias, in order to avoid rights abuses such as occurred after the recapture of the city of Tikrit from Isis in April. US officials have warned of the need to avoid fanning sectarian tensions.

“Our forces are advancing toward the government complex in the centre of Ramadi,” the counter-terrorism units’ spokesman Sabah al-Numani said. “The fighting is in the neighbourhoods around the complex, with support from the air force.”

The Baghdad government has said it also wanted to spare civilians and give them the opportunity to leave the city, but there were reports that Isis had prevented Ramadi residents fleeing in order to use them as human shields.

Iraqi intelligence estimates the number of Isis fighters entrenched in the centre of Ramadi, capital of Western Anbar province, at between 250 and 300.

The offensive to capture the city centre began at dawn when military units crossed the Euphrates river into the central districts using a bridge that had been destroyed by the militants and had to be repaired by army engineers, Mr Numani said.

“Crossing the river was the main difficulty,” he said. “We’re facing sniper fire and suicide bombers who are trying to slow our advance, we’re dealing with them with air force support.”

If the attack to capture Ramadi succeeds, it will be the second major city after Tikrit to be retaken from Isis in Iraq. The group still controls Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, and Falluja, which lies between Ramadi and Baghdad.

REUTERS