Iraqi army urges civilians to leave IS-held Ramadi ahead of assault

Iraqi army urges civilians to leave IS-held Ramadi ahead of assault
December 1, 2015 - 11:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Iraqi army has urged people living in the centre of the Islamic State-held city of Ramadi to leave before an operation to retake it is launched, BBC News reports.

A security source told the BBC leaflets had been dropped by planes, warning residents the army planned to storm the city within the next 24 hours.

The call, which was also broadcast on state television, told them to use an exit secured by the army to the south.

Ramadi was captured by IS in May in an embarrassing defeat for the Iraqi army.

Last month, the US military said Iraqi troops and pro-government militiamen had essentially encircled the city, located about 90km (55 miles) to the west of Baghdad, and that conditions were set for a final assault.

Photo: Reuters/ Ali Al-Mashhadani
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BBC. Iraqi army warns of imminent assault on IS-held Ramadi
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