Iraq forces retake university on edge of Ramadi

Agence France-Presse

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Iraq forces retake university on edge of Ramadi

AFP

The university was retaken by elite forces from Iraq's Counter Terrorism Service, known as the 'Golden Brigade'

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi government forces recaptured a university campus Sunday, July 26, on the outskirts of Ramadi from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, seizing a key position for any offensive to retake the city, officials said.

Iraqi forces had recaptured parts of Anbar University in May, shortly after losing the provincial capital to the jihadists, but later pulled back.

The university was retaken by elite forces from Iraq’s Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), known as the “Golden Brigade.”

“The Golden Brigade managed to liberate Anbar University with backing from the army as well as air support from the coalition and Iraqi aircraft,” Brigadier General Abdelamir al-Khazraji, deputy commander of CTS forces in Anbar, said.

“Our forces liberated the university early Sunday and now have full control of it, following a week of fierce clashes,” he told Agence France-Presse.

“The Iraqi flag is flying above the university presidency once again,” he said.

A statement from CTS said the Iraqi special forces had “inflicted heavy human and material losses to the enemy.”

Ramadi Mayor Dalaf al-Kubaysi said: “What was left of the insurgents fled the area.”

Anbar University’s vast compound lies south of the main highway that circles Ramadi from the south.

Iraqi forces had retaken two neighborhoods south of the highway and parts of the university campus days after the devastating May 17 fall of Ramadi.

They later pulled back as ISIS continued to attack Iraqi positions east of the city and commanders regrouped to organize a counteroffensive across the entire province.

The US-led coalition formed a year ago when ISIS threatened to conquer even larger swathes of Iraq has carried out thousands of strikes in support of Iraqi regular forces.

On July 24 alone, the US military said 5 air strikes in the Ramadi area destroyed ISIS positions and vehicles.

Iraqi forces had held on to parts of Ramadi for nearly 18 months before buckling in the face of a 3-day jihadist blitz during which ISIS unleashed an unprecedented number of truck bombs.

The government is now focusing its military efforts on Anbar, a province which stretches west from the outskirts of Baghdad to the borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. – Rappler.com

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