Updated: PM Abadi says army freed last IS bastion in Anbar in record time

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has congratulated the armed forces and Iraqi people on liberation of Rawa, the last Islamic State’s stronghold in western Anbar, in record time.

“Our champions freed Rawa in record time and are resuming the combing of the Jazeera region as well as the desert and securing the Iraqi borders,” Abadi said in a statement on Friday.

“Liberation of Rawa in few hours shows the power and capability of our armed forces as well as the successful plans of the battles,” he added.

Moreover, the Iraqi Interior Minister has said that the military presence of IS is over after the liberation of Rawa in western Anbar.

Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Jazeera and Upper Euphrates Combing Operations, announced, an hour earlier, liberation of Rawa and raising the Iraqi flag above buildings there.

This came after the command announced liberation of many districts in the town.

Previously on the day, the War Media Cell said operations launched on the dawn of Friday for the “liberation of Rawa”.

Naeem al-Kaoud, chief of Anbar province council’s security committee, was quoted saying that operations to retake Rawa will possibly not take more than 24 hours, noting that most of IS militants had fled to Syria.

The Iraqi army announced on Thursday erecting a floating bridge between Annah and Rawa.

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced on Friday liberation of Qaim in record time. Troops also freed Ebeidi and Krabla regions in western Anbar.

Operations were launched, late October, to liberate Qaim and Rawa towns. Both have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it occupied one third of Iraq to proclaim a self-styled Islamic “Caliphate”.

According to United Nations counts, the war against IS has displaced five million people.