Iraqi forces claimed Tuesday to have fully retaken the areas surrounding Ramadi and reopened the road linking the recently-liberated city to Baghdad, AFP reported.
A statement released by the joint operations command said Iraqi forces and their allies "were able to liberate areas east of Ramadi," the last remaining strongholds for Daesh militants near the city.
Iraqi forces "were also able to open the Ramadi-Baghdad road passing through Khaldiyah," AFP reported the statement as saying.
Iraq is reportedly deploying thousands of troops in an area southeast of Daesh-held Mosul ahead of an expected operation to retake the city from the militants.
