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Iraqi forces 'advance into Islamic State-held Ramadi' Iraqi forces 'advance into Islamic State-held Ramadi'
(about 2 hours later)
Iraqi government forces have advanced into the centre of the city of Ramadi, which is controlled by jihadist group Islamic State (IS), officials say. Iraqi government forces are advancing into the centre of the city of Ramadi, which is controlled by jihadist group Islamic State (IS), officials say.
A spokesman for the Counter-Terrorism Service, Sabah al-Numani, said troops and militiamen, supported by the air force, were clearing residential areas. A spokesman for the Counter-Terrorism Service, Sabah al-Numani, said troops and militiamen, supported by the air force, were making good progress.
They were heading towards the main government complex, he added.They were heading towards the main government complex, he added.
Ramadi, about 90km (55 miles) west of Baghdad, fell to IS in May in an embarrassing defeat for the Iraqi army.Ramadi, about 90km (55 miles) west of Baghdad, fell to IS in May in an embarrassing defeat for the Iraqi army.
Last month, government forces completed their encirclement of the city, cutting off militants inside the centre from their strongholds elsewhere in Anbar province. Last month, government forces completed their encirclement of the predominantly Sunni Arab city, cutting off militants inside the centre from their strongholds elsewhere in Anbar province and in neighbouring Syria.
'Human shields''Human shields'
The army's chief of staff Lt Gen Othman al-Ghanemi told state TV on Monday that the "storming of the city of Ramadi, as well as cleansing operations against IS elements" was imminent. Mr Numani said troops from the elite Counter-Terrorism Service, backed by the army, Sunni tribesmen and US-led coalition aircraft, had begun the assault on central Ramadi at dawn and were advancing towards the government complex.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Numani said troops from the elite Counter-Terrorism Service, backed by the army, Sunni tribesmen and US-led coalition aircraft, had begun the assault and were advancing towards the government complex.
"We went into the centre of Ramadi from several fronts and we began purging residential areas," he told the AFP news agency."We went into the centre of Ramadi from several fronts and we began purging residential areas," he told the AFP news agency.
"The city will be cleared in the coming 72 hours." "The city will be cleared in the coming 72 hours.
"Our forces reached the Bakr neighbourhood. We did not face strong resistance - only snipers and suicide bombers, and this is a tactic we expected," he added.
A source in the Iraqi military's Anbar Operations Command told the BBC that engineers had built temporary bridges over the River Euphrates, which flows along the north and west of the city centre. This had enabled troops to enter directly the al-Haouz district, south-west of the government complex, the source added.
Iraqi intelligence estimates that between 250 and 300 militants are inside Ramadi.Iraqi intelligence estimates that between 250 and 300 militants are inside Ramadi.
The defence ministry said on Monday that the jihadists had prevented civilians leaving since leaflets warning of an assault were dropped over the city last month. The US military says they have developed a strong defensive system, including using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to create minefields.
On Monday, the defence ministry warned that the jihadists had prevented civilians leaving since leaflets warning of an assault were dropped over the city last month.
"They plan to use them as human shields," spokesman Naseer Nuri told the Reuters news agency, without indicating the number of civilians who were at risk."They plan to use them as human shields," spokesman Naseer Nuri told the Reuters news agency, without indicating the number of civilians who were at risk.
The US military says IS has also developed a strong defensive system, including using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to create minefields. Sources inside Ramadi told the BBC on Tuesday that IS militants had also carried out a campaign of raids and mass arrests of residents in districts still under their control, in an attempt to prevent an uprising in support of the government offensive.
IS has lost control of several key towns in Iraq to government and Kurdish forces since overrunning large swathes of the country's west and north in June 2014 and proclaiming the creation of a "caliphate" that also extended into neighbouring Syria. The operation to recapture Ramadi, which began in early November, has made slow progress, mainly because the government has chosen not to use the powerful Shia-dominated paramilitary force that helped it regain the northern city of Tikrit to avoid increasing sectarian tensions.
Last month, Iraqi Kurdish forces recaptured the north-western town of Sinjar. IS has lost control of several key towns in Iraq to government and Kurdish forces since over-running large swathes of the country's west and north in June 2014 and proclaiming the creation of a "caliphate" that also extended into neighbouring Syria.
On Monday, analysis by IHS Jane's suggested that IS had lost 14% of its overall territory in Iraq and Syria, about 12,800 sq km (4,940 sq miles), over the past year.On Monday, analysis by IHS Jane's suggested that IS had lost 14% of its overall territory in Iraq and Syria, about 12,800 sq km (4,940 sq miles), over the past year.
Despite this, the group has been able to capture new territory of strategic value over the same period, including Ramadi and Palmyra in Syria's Homs province. Despite this, the group has been able to capture new territory of strategic value over the same period, including Ramadi and Palmyra in Syria's Homs province. It also still controls the Iraqi cities of Falluja, east of Ramadi, and Mosul, in the north.
What is Islamic State?
IS is a notoriously violent Islamist group which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq. It has declared its territory a caliphate - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law - under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
What does it want?
IS demands allegiance from all Muslims, rejects national borders and seeks to expand its territory. It adheres to its own extreme interpretation of Sunni Islam and regards non-believers as deserving of death.
How strong is IS?
IS projects a powerful image, partly through propaganda and sheer brutality, and is the world's richest insurgent group. It has about 30,000 fighters but is facing daily bombing by a US-led multi-national coalition, which has vowed to destroy it.
More on Islamic State