Iraqi forces fully control Sofiya area east of Ramadi

Iraqi forces fully controlled on Friday the Sofiya area east of Ramadi, a military source said.

Regiments of Anbar Governorate's police troops entered the area on Friday morning after it has been taken from Daesh militants.

Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, was touted as the first major success for Iraq's army since it collapsed in the face of Daesh's lightning advance across the country's north and west 18 months ago.

The militants have been pushed to Ramadi's eastern suburbs, but almost all of the city, which was battered by US-led air strikes against Daesh, remains off-limits to its nearly half a million displaced residents, most of whom fled before the army advance.

The counter-terrorism forces which spearheaded the city's recapture are securing only main streets and tactically important buildings, security sources said.

Source: MENA