Iraqi official warns of fall of Ramadi as ISIL closes in on city
Iran Press TV
Wed Apr 15, 2015 1:19PM
Iraq's key city of Ramadi has come under fierce attacks from the ISIL terror group and could fall into the hands of terrorists any time, a provincial official has warned.
Falih Essawi, the deputy head of the Anbar Provincial Council, issued the warning on Wednesday in an interview with CNN amid violent clashes that have engulfed the city, which is situated about 113 kilometers (70 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad, and is the capital of Anbar Province.
It is not clear how much longer government troops can hold their front lines against ISIL, the official said, adding that the Takfiri militants have made advances in three areas east of Ramadi.
Ramadi has been the scene of fierce and unrelenting fighting for months, with ISIL managing to capture parts of it in the first half of 2014.
Iraqi troops backed by helicopters are trying to recapture three villages on the edge of the city of Ramadi.
Clashes in the region escalated after ISIL seized control of Sjariyah, Albu-Ghanim and Soufiya villages. Reports from Soufiya say that ISIL has bombed a police station and taken over a power plant.
ISIL took control of areas north of the violence-hit city during the weekend. Routes south of Ramadi fell to the terrorists several months ago and government forces are now in control of areas to the west of Ramadi.
Clashes have forced a large number of residents from their home.
ISIL started its campaign of terror in Iraq in early June 2014. The heavily-armed militants took control of the city of Mosul before sweeping through parts of the country's Sunni Arab heartland.
Iraqi soldiers, police units, Kurdish forces, Shia volunteers and Sunni tribesmen have been engaged in joint operations to drive the terrorists out of areas they have seized.
MR/HSN/SS
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