Iraqi forces retake remote western town from Islamic State
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 19 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iraqi forces retake remote western town from Islamic State, 19 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5769012d13.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 19, 2016
Iraq's military says it has regained control of the remote western town of Rutba from the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
It said on May 19 that counterterrorism forces, backed by U.S.-led coalition air strikes, "completely liberated" the district, 360 kilometers west of Baghdad.
Iraqi forces launched the drive to retake Rutba, located in Anbar Province along the main road to Jordan, three days earlier.
Coalition spokesman U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren described IS resistance in Rutba as "moderate to light," but said the Iraqis were still clearing enemy forces.
IS fighters overran large swaths of Iraqi and Syrian territory in June 2014, and later made further advances in Anbar.
Troops and allied tribal fighters last month retook the town of Hit and in February declared that the provincial capital of Ramadi had been liberated.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website