"Our security forces launched an operation from Khaldiya, east of Ramadi, and managed to liberate the College of Agriculture," said Hamid al-Dulaimi, Ramadi district mayor. "They are clearing several other neighbourhoods," he said. Police chief Hadi Irzayij said security forces detained 30 suspected Islamic State group fighters "who were attempting to flee Ramadi by blending in with civilians." "We are following a plan put together in a way that will prevent casualties in the ranks of the security forces," he police chief added. IS, which took full control of Ramadi in May 2015, had planted thousands of explosive devices on roads and in buildings to defend the city.
Clearing operations are led by Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service (CTS), along with army, police and local tribal forces, as well as aerial backing from the US-led anti-IS coalition. The jihadists are no longer in a position to fight back, but many managed to pull out of last week's main battle and redeploy in eastern Ramadi or nearby rural areas. On Friday, IS staged a large attack on a compound used by the army's 10th Division, in a desert area north of Ramadi.
"They used six suicide vehicles followed by a commando of fighters wearing explosive belts," said a lieutenant colonel. "They managed to take control of the base when the army had to pull out because it suffered casualties... Iraqi forces have since counter-attacked and retaken control, with aerial coalition backing," he said. Coalition spokesman Colonel Steve Warren confirmed the attack and said he expected the Iraqi forces to soon retake full control of the compound.