Iraqi army says Ramadi cleared of all ISIS remnants

BAGHDAD—The Iraqi army announced on Tuesday that it has regained full control of the city of Ramadi in western Iraq after weeks of battling remnants of Islamic State militants.

An army statement said that counterterrorism forces, local police and Shiite militia took part in several operations to drive ISIS militants from three main quarters of the city and surrounding areas among them Sajariyya, Jubiyya and Hasibah.

The militants had remained in the city and fought the Iraqi security forces after it was declared free from the extremist group at the end of December.

The army said that the main road connecting Ramadi to the capital Baghdad through the volatile town of Khalidya has also come under full control.

ISIS militants are still believed to be in control of many areas in Anbar province including Falluja where they are under siege from Iraqi forces.

The militants killed at least 30 Iraqi soldiers last week in a mortar shell attack and car bombs.