ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Iraq’s Vice President Nouri al-Maliki congratulated the armed forces and the people of Iraq on the liberation of Ramadi from Islamic State (ISIS) militants, making no reference to the US-led coalition air support. In a statement the former prime minister said that the army, anti-terrorism squad and the Iraqi air force inflicted a fatal blow to ISIS in Ramadi. “We salute our heroes that returned the trust of their people and proved the power of success when the forces are united,” said Maliki. He, in particular, praised the Shiite militia forces for their role in the liberation of Ramadi. Maliki’s remarks contradicted earlier reports that the Shiite militia known as the popular mobilization forces (PMF) did not have a part in the offensive for the Sunni city. His statement made no mention of the aerial support that was an integral part of the offensive for Ramadi. Steve Warren, the spokesperson for the coalition forces in Iraq said on Sunday that they have conducted more than 600 air strikes against ISIS in support of the Iraqi army since July. The army reported on Monday that it had reached the city center and was in control of the government complex. The provincial capital of Anbar fell to ISIS militants in May in what was seen as the Iraqi army’s second humiliating defeat after the loss of Mosul a year earlier.
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