Iraqi government forces recaptured a university campus Sunday on the outskirts of Ramadi from the Islamic State group, seizing a key position for any offensive to retake the city, officials said. Iraqi forces had recaptured parts of Anbar University in May, shortly after losing the provincial capital to the jihadists, but later pulled back.
The university was retaken by elite forces from Iraq's Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), known as the "Golden Brigade".
"The Golden Brigade managed to liberate Anbar University with backing from the army as well as air support from the coalition and Iraqi aircraft," Brigadier General Abdelamir al-Khazraji, deputy commander of CTS forces in Anbar, said.
"Our forces liberated the university early Sunday and now have full control of it, following a week of fierce clashes," he told AFP.
"The Iraqi flag is flying above the university presidency once again," he said.
A statement from CTS said the Iraqi special forces had "inflicted heavy human and material losses to the enemy."
Ramadi Mayor Dalaf al-Kubaysi said: "What was left of the insurgents fled the area."
Anbar University's vast compound lies south of the main highway that circles Ramadi from the south.
Iraqi forces had retaken two neighbourhoods south of the highway and parts of the university campus days after the devastating May 17 fall of Ramadi.
They later pulled back as IS continued to attack Iraqi positions east of the city and commanders regrouped to organise a counteroffensive across the entire province.
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