The Iraqi forces have gained control over the al-Huz neighbourhood in the city of Ramadi that has been under the Isis or Islamic State militants' control since May this year. Fierce battle is going on between the forces of Iraq and rebels, according to reports.
On Saturday, two members of Iraq armed forces were killed and nine others were injured, police captain Ahmed al-Dulaimi said, according to AFP. Three others were reported dead on Friday.
The provincial government compound and town's police station is located in al-Huz neighbourhood. Iraq's army and "counter-terrorism forces are within 800 meters (0.5 mile) from the government complex".
Iraqi troops had entered Ramadi on Tuesday and they hoped to take back the city from the Isis in the next 72 hours. However, they were slowed down by booby traps, snipers, roadside bombs and suicide attackers.
They were able to reach their target -- al-Huz neighbourhood -- with the backing of the US-led coalition's air strikes. "Air strikes helped detonate explosive devices and booby-trapped houses, facilitating our advance," joint operations command spokesman Brigadier Yahya Rasool said, Reuters reported.
As the Isis is using civilians as human shields, the armed government forces are being careful and moving slowly to ensure civilians are unhurt. "The campaign's priority is to avoid casualties among civilians and the troops, no matter how long it takes," Rasool said.
Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province in western Iraq, is one of the major regions captured by the Isis. If the Iraqi forces are successful in driving the Isis militants away from the city, the feat will be marked as one of the most important victories against the Islamist extremist group in the country.
