Iraqi Military Launches Offensive Against ISIS In Ramadi

Iraq's military has launched an offensive to wrest control of the city of Ramadi from Islamic State militants.

NPR's Alison Meuse told our Newscast unit that the operation is backed by U.S.-led airstrikes. Here's more from Alison:

"A 72-hour government deadline for civilians to leave Ramadi is over. Now, U.S. airstrikes are targeting ISIS positions, and Iraqi troops are pushing into the city center from three sides. The troops are working alongside Sunni tribal fighters and militiamen — against the Sunni extremists of Islamic State.

"Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, fell to ISIS back in May. Government forces encircled Ramadi last month, cutting the city off from other ISIS-held areas. But ISIS still controls most of the province, which borders ISIS-held territory in Syria."

Iraqi intelligence officials say 250 to 300 Islamic State fighters are still positioned in the city center, about 70 miles west of Baghdad, Reuters reported.

The wire service says a victory in Ramadi would boost Iraqi troop morale. "Retaking Ramadi would provide a major psychological boost to Iraqi security forces after Islamic State seized a third of Iraq, a major OPEC oil producer and U.S. ally, last year," says Reuters.

Last week, President Obama said that ISIS has "has lost about 40 percent of the populated areas it once controlled in Iraq."