Iraqi army says booby traps and bombers slow Ramadi advance

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi army officials claimed Wednesday that an abundance of booby traps and suicide bombers have slowed an offensive in Ramadi, but vowed to fight on until Islamic State (ISIS) relinquish the strategic city.

"With the help of Iraqi counter-terror forces, the Iraqi army launched the Ramadi liberation campaign, but ISIS’ use of mines and booby traps have made battles tough," Captain Ihab Jalil of the Iraqi counter-terror forces told Rudaw.

He added that the liberation of Ramadi is closer than ever, because "our forces have foiled ISIS plots, despite the numerous suicide bombers and booby traps laid before us."

To open a corridor for the Iraqi army and security forces "counter-terror forces entered Ramadi neighborhoods from all sides," he added, explaining that jets from the US-led coalition have played a decisive role in pounding the group across the city.

Earlier Wednesday, Lieut. Imad Mohammed, another member of the counter-terror forces, revealed that "today Iraqi counter-terror forces launched their assault towards the Ramadi downtown, and we expect the liberation of Ramadi very soon."

According to a US-led coalition spokesman, Iraqi forces and Sunni tribal fighters began their entry into Ramadi, capital of Iraq’s western Anbar province on Tuesday.

Col. Steve Warren told reporters in a tele-conference briefing that Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) had penetrated into Ramadi, which has been controlled by ISIS since May.

“The fall of Ramadi is inevitable. You know, the end is coming,” he said. “There's still tough fighting ahead in Ramadi's dense urban terrain,” Warren said.

Noting that there was no Shiite militia taking part in the offensive, Warren said that once the city is taken back, security will be assured by Sunni tribal fighters as well as the Anbar police - the local force that has been trained by Italian Carabinieri coalition partners.

Iraqi army says booby traps and bombers slow Ramadi advance

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