Iraqi Forces Announce Takeover of Ramadi from ISIS

Iraqi officials announced that its forces have taken back the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State.

Military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul stated Monday that the troops were able to raise the Iraqi flag on top of the government compound located in the center of the city. Security sources added that although they have "full control" over the city, there are still some "pockets of resistance" in certain areas.

"We believe that we do have full control of the center of Ramadi," Muhannad Haimour, spokesman for the Anbar governor, said to BBC News. "But we're being very careful in declaring victory until we have an official announcement from the prime minister's office."

Haimour added that officials do not believe that their security forces are in danger of being attacked by ISIS fighters. ISIS is another term for the terrorist group that is based in Syria and Iraq. Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, however, stressed the importance of securing and rebuilding the area.

He said to Reuters, "The most important thing is to security it because Daesh can bounce back." Daesh is the Arabic acronym that refers to the Islamic State.

The U.S.-led coalition, which has been carrying out airstrikes on targets believed to be linked to ISIS in Iraq, praised the efforts of the Iraqi military.

The spokesman for the coalition, Col. Steve Warren, said reported by CNN, "The clearance of the government center is a significant accomplishment and is the result of many months of hard work by the Iraqi army, the Counter Terrorism Service, the Iraqi Air Force, local and federal police and tribal fighters."

Warren added that the coalition has launched more than 630 airstrikes in this area over the past six months. It has also provided training, equipment and military advice to the many groups that worked together to regain control of the city.

Iraq lost the city, which is about 55 miles west of the capital, Baghdad, to ISIS fighters back in May. The forces started to carry out attacks to take back the city over the past few weeks.

No death toll has been reported yet. The government in Baghdad stated that it would now be focused on liberating Mosul.