BAGHDAD — Iraqi forces backed by the U.S.-led coalition retook on Friday the last town in the country that was held by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), more than three years after the militants stormed nearly a third of Iraq’s territory, the Defense Ministry said.
At dawn, military units and local tribal fighters pushed into the western neighborhoods of Rawah in western Anbar province, and after just five hours of fighting they retook the town, according to Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, the ministry’s spokesman.
Iraq’s Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, congratulated his forces on retaking Rawah. In a statement released on Friday afternoon, Al-Abadi said Iraqi forces liberated Rawah in record time and were continuing operations to retake control of Iraq’s western desert and the border area with Syria.
Iraq’s military relased what it says is video of the operation to retake Rawa.
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