Iraqi forces claimed victory over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Ramadi as clearing operations were under way to flush out the armed group's remaining fighters in the key city.
"Yes, the city of Ramadi has been liberated," Brigadier General Yahya Rasool said in a televised statement on Monday, a day after the army took control of the key government compound in Ramadi's Al Huz neighbourhood.
"The Iraqi counter-terrorism forces have raised the Iraqi flag over the government complex in Anbar," Rasool added, saying the fighting will continue until the whole city is liberated. "This is a new chapter in the history of the country."
'Long war'
Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province, fell to ISIL in May in an embarrassing setback for Iraqi forces.
Analysts say recapturing the provincial capital, which is just 100km west of Baghdad, could deprive ISIL of its biggest prize of 2015.
"By controlling the complex this means that we have defeated them in Ramadi," said Sabah al-Numani, a spokesman for government forces.
"The next step is to clear pockets that could exist here or there in the city."
Mark Kimmitt, a former US assistant secretary of political and military affairs, said recapturing Ramadi was just a small part of defeating ISIL
"The Iraqi army has improved but to take Ramadi is going to take thousands and thousands of soldiers, and one question is whether those soldiers are ready at this point,"..
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