ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi claimed Tuesday that Iraqi joint forces have made massive advances from all directions around the Islamic State-held city of Ramadi in Anbar province, and the provincial capital would soon be liberated from the extremist group.
“Iraqi joint forces including the army, security forces, Hashd al-Shaabi and tribal militias in coordination with the US-led coalition have completely surrounded Ramadi, especially on the western side of the city," said Obeidi in a written statement released Tuesday.
The statement also said that after the Ramadi military campaign has ended operations to liberate other territories held by ISIS in Anbar province are expected to begin.
Obeidi added in the statement military operations will continue even if Mosul is liberated from ISIS.
"Despite Mosul, military operations will include all provinces in Iraq, especially areas that have been used by ISIS as safe havens to harbor its facilities and militants before the Mosul takeover," the statement said.
Some 10,000 Iraqi soldiers, policemen and militants of the Shiite militia group Hashd al-Shaabi and tribal forces have been fighting to clear Anbar province from ISIS since June, but they have not managed to make any significant advances into ISIS-held areas, since operations to take back the province have several times been repulsed by ISIS.
