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Wednesday 09 Dec 2015 - 11:13 Makkah mean time-27-2-1437
Baghdad, (IINA) - Iraq’s military claimed that more than half of Ramadi is now back in Iraqi control after a big push early this week, CNN reported.
The inroads came after Iraqi troops, counterterrorism unit members and federal police officers targeted ISIS militants from three sides in a 24-hour period, aided by US-led airstrikes.
Iraq's Joint Military Command reported 60 percent of the Anbar province city had been retaken, including a one-time Iraqi military headquarters in northern Ramadi, as well as western and southern parts of the city.
The military said that dozens of ISIS fighters died in the operation. However, the number of Iraqi casualties wasn't immediately clear. Iraqi troops also managed to confiscate a large amount of weaponry.
U.S. Central Command said in a statement it had launched six strikes around Ramadi on Monday, hitting two ISIS tactical units and destroying weaponry, ammunition and supply caches, buildings and a vehicle belonging to the group.
Starting late last month, Iraqi forces began dropping leaflets on Ramadi urging people to leave the city ahead of a promised military offensive.
"To our people in the city of Ramadi, evacuate your families from the city immediately and go to the south through al Hameera area", the leaflets read, according to the Iraqi military.
However, leaving isn't necessarily easy. Ramadi residents told CNN on Monday that ISIS had set up additional checkpoints around the city to prevent people from fleeing. "ISIS made it very clear to all of us that anyone who tries to flee the city will be considered an apostate. And you know what they will do to an apostate", said a resident, referring to ISIS' practice of detaining and killing those who don't accept its extreme ideology.
The US urged Iraq to move as rapidly as possible in fear that ISIS militants might endanger civilians.
AG/IINA
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