Iraqi forces eying further push into IS-held Ramadi, U.S. ready to help

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iraqi forces are preparing to push further into the city center of the Islamic State-held city of Ramadi following significant advances on the Anbar provincial capital the previous day, the Associated Press reports.

Iraqi Maj Gen. Ismail al-Mahlawi, the head of military operations in Anbar province, says his troops are preparing to push "toward the government complex and the Houz area," in central Ramadi.

He told The Associated Press on Wednesday, December 9 the neighborhood is the backbone of the IS group's structure in Ramadi.

Iraqi troops' advances on Tuesday were the most significant incursion into Ramadi since the city fell to IS in May. The push placed Iraqi forces along the southwest edge of Ramadi in the Tamim neighborhood and north of the city, at the former Anbar operations command.

The United States is prepared to deploy advisers and attack helicopters if requested by Iraq to help it "finish the job" of retaking the city of Ramadi from Islamic State, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday.

Carter's remarks were the latest sign of U.S. preparations to intensify its military campaign against the group, which controls wide swaths of Iraq and Syria and has orchestrated and inspired attacks abroad.