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| Iraqi forces retake Islamic State Ramadi stronghold | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Iraqi forces have retaken a former government compound in Ramadi from where Islamic State (IS) group militants have been resisting an army offensive, the military has said. | Iraqi forces have retaken a former government compound in Ramadi from where Islamic State (IS) group militants have been resisting an army offensive, the military has said. |
| The complex was "under complete control" and there was no sign of IS fighters, a spokesman said. | The complex was "under complete control" and there was no sign of IS fighters, a spokesman said. |
| He said this heralded the defeat of IS in the city, although he admitted there could be pockets of resistance. | He said this heralded the defeat of IS in the city, although he admitted there could be pockets of resistance. |
| The government has been trying to retake Ramadi for weeks. | The government has been trying to retake Ramadi for weeks. |
| The mainly Sunni Arab city, about 55 miles (90km) west of Baghdad, fell to IS in May, and was seen as an embarrassing defeat for the army. | The mainly Sunni Arab city, about 55 miles (90km) west of Baghdad, fell to IS in May, and was seen as an embarrassing defeat for the army. |
| Did tactical switch help advance? | |
| Islamic State conflict | |
| Life under IS | |
| Viewpoint: How to defeat IS | |
| In recent days, troops have been picking their way through booby-trapped streets and buildings as they pushed towards the city centre, seizing several districts on the way. | In recent days, troops have been picking their way through booby-trapped streets and buildings as they pushed towards the city centre, seizing several districts on the way. |
| After sniper fire from the compound stopped and aerial surveillance detected no human activity, Iraqi soldiers moved in. | After sniper fire from the compound stopped and aerial surveillance detected no human activity, Iraqi soldiers moved in. |
| The military spokesman, Sabah al-Numani, told Reuters: "The complex is under our complete control, there is no presence whatsoever of [IS] fighters in the complex. | The military spokesman, Sabah al-Numani, told Reuters: "The complex is under our complete control, there is no presence whatsoever of [IS] fighters in the complex. |
| "By controlling the complex this means that they have been defeated in Ramadi. The next step is to clear pockets that could exist here or there in the city." | "By controlling the complex this means that they have been defeated in Ramadi. The next step is to clear pockets that could exist here or there in the city." |
| Analysis: BBC's Thomas Fessy in Baghdad | Analysis: BBC's Thomas Fessy in Baghdad |
| Controlling this compound is key to retaking Ramadi. Iraqi soldiers are slowly clearing it as they fear it may have been rigged to explode. | |
| Troops are also busy in the surrounding neighbourhood, where pockets of resistance remain. | |
| The authorities will hail this week's offensive as a success - in stark contrast with the security forces' hasty retreat from Ramadi last May. | |
| However, it took months to mount this ground campaign, in co-ordination with coalition air strikes. | |
| There had been no clear indications of the number of IS militants who had been defending the city, although some reports put it at about 400. No official toll of Iraqi army casualties has been given. | |
| The Iraqi military believes the remaining militants have headed north-east; with fighting also reported to be under way to the south-west of the compound. | The Iraqi military believes the remaining militants have headed north-east; with fighting also reported to be under way to the south-west of the compound. |
| Gen Ismail al-Mahlawi, head of Anbar military operations, told Associated Press that the fighting had been tough given IS's use of suicide bombers, snipers and booby traps. | Gen Ismail al-Mahlawi, head of Anbar military operations, told Associated Press that the fighting had been tough given IS's use of suicide bombers, snipers and booby traps. |
| Concern also remains for the plight of hundreds of families who have been trapped on the frontline. | |
| Will Mosul be next target? | |
| Life in Mosul under IS | |
| The fight for Mosul | |
| Although the full extent of the situation on the ground remains unclear, Agence France-Presse reported there had been celebrations on the streets of a number of Iraqi cities. | Although the full extent of the situation on the ground remains unclear, Agence France-Presse reported there had been celebrations on the streets of a number of Iraqi cities. |
| The operation to recapture Ramadi began in early November, but made slow progress, mainly because the government chose not to use the powerful Shia-dominated paramilitary force that helped it regain the northern city of Tikrit, to avoid increasing sectarian tensions. | The operation to recapture Ramadi began in early November, but made slow progress, mainly because the government chose not to use the powerful Shia-dominated paramilitary force that helped it regain the northern city of Tikrit, to avoid increasing sectarian tensions. |