Iraqi Forces Recapture Portions of Ramadi from Islamic State

Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Multiple reports indicate Iraqi forces have scored a victory in the fight against the Islamic State, taking back important districts in a city that was captured by ISIS militants earlier this year.

Citing Iraqi counterterrorism officials, the BBC reported Tuesday that the Iraqi government has reclaimed parts of the city of Ramadi. The entire city had been taken by the Islamic State in May.

CNN reported the reclaimed territory works out to be about 60 percent of the city.

The move comes after government officials reportedly worked to seal off the city and prevent the Islamic State from bringing in supplies and manpower. Reuters reported ISIS’ final link to the outside was severed last month, and living conditions within Ramadi quickly went downhill.

Reuters quoted one resident as saying the Islamic State was “treating women like animals” and another as saying food rations were so scarce that he’d have to eat his family’s cat if they ran out.

The news agency reported somewhere between 1,200 and 1,700 families were pinned in the city.

CNN reported that Iraqi forces were trying to encourage Ramadi residents to evacuate before the siege, but Islamic State militants were threatening to kill anyone they caught attempting to flee.

It wasn’t immediately clear if any civilians were killed as the Iraqi forces reclaimed the districts.

The BBC reported Iraqi forces would also work to take back the center of Ramadi, though those efforts were complicated by the belief that ISIS likely placed bombs in roads and buildings there.

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