ISIL lose their grip on Ramadi as Iraqi army returns

Iraqi forces have taken control of a government complex in Ramadi from the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIL).

Ramadi had fallen into the hands of ISIL back in May and Iraqi armed forces had been struggling to win it back ever since, fighting their way into the city on December 23rd. Pockets of ISIL resistance remain and are being cleared, a military spokesman said on Sunday. 

The victory was assisted by airstikes by the US-led coalition and will allow the Iraqis to move on to the capturing their next goal: Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city. The ultimate goal of the alliance, however remains the capture of ISIL’s Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.

In Syria, the US-backed Kurdish Arab rebel alliance has captured a dam on the River Euphrates from ISIL, a move expected to hamper ISIL's main supply route across the Euphrates.

The spokesman said he believes the group can be defeated.