Anbar Province: Iraqi Army Wins Back Key Region Near Ramadi City

Rasa - Iraq's Joint Military Forces continued their advances against the ISIL terrorists group in Anbar province, and seized back a strategic region near the city of Ramadi.

News ID: 422868

Date: 22 August 2016 - 17:55

RNA - The Iraqi army and volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) are now in full control of Albu Bali area, East of Ramadi city, as heavy clashes are underway in surrounding areas.

Scores of ISIL terrorists have been killed and wounded in tough battle with Iraq's joint military forces, battlefield reports said.

Albu Bali is located to the Northwest of the city of Fallujah on the bank of the Euphrates river. Al-Khalediya Island is also located to the East of Albu Bali while Albu Nasir and Albu Ubeid villages are located to the South and to the West of Albu Bali region.

Earlier on Monday, the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi continued their mop-up operations in al-Khalediya Island, and purged the ISIL terrorists from al-Asaleh factory.

The army and volunteer forces also managed to purge al-Bu Kan'an region on the western side of the Euphrates River of terrorists.

Scores of terrorists were killed and wounded in fierce clashes with the Iraqi army and volunteer forces.

On Saturday a senior military commander announced that Iraq's joint military forces had completely seized back the strategic al-Khalediya Island located to the East of al-Ramadi in Anbar province.

"The Iraqi security and Hashd al-Shaabi managed to fully liberate al-Khalediya Island 23 kilometers to the East of al-Ramadi and also take full control of the surrounding villages and regions of the island," Commander of Anbar Liberation Operations Major General Esmayeel Mahlawi said.

He noted that the liberation of al-Khalediya Island comes after recapturing of the Bu Kana'an region which was the last military base of the terrorists in Al-Khalediya Island area.

Meantime, Hashd al-Shaabi Command Center in a statement announced that over 150 terrorists from different countries, including two Americans, 7 Russians, 4 Chechens and many Saudis, were killed in the al-Khalediya Island liberation operation.

Also on Thursday, General Mahlawi said that the Iraqi forces killed 700 ISIL militants during an anti-terrorist offensive on Khalediya Island.

"Security forces so far have killed 700 ISIL members since the beginning of Khalediya Island liberation battles," said General Mahlawi.

The final anti-terrorist offensive on Khalediya Island started in late July.

The city of Ramadi was occupied by ISIL militants in May 2014. The government forces succeeded in retaking the city after weeks of fierce fighting from December 2015 to February 2016.

ISIL is a terrorist group mainly operating in Syria and Iraq. The terrorists have also claimed responsibility for attacks in Europe. The group is deemed as terrorist entity by international bodies, including UN.

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