Iraqi commander says troops still encircling government complex in IS-held city of Ramadi

BAGHDAD – A military commander says government troops are still encircling the local government complex in the Islamic State-held city of Ramadi.

Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Belawi told The Associated Press on Monday that the militants stopped firing at the troops at around 8:00 a.m. from inside the complex and that "we believe that they were either killed or fled."

Fearful of possible booby traps or suicide bombers holed up inside the complex, al-Belawi said that troops were calling in engineering teams before entering. He expects to take over the complex "in the coming hours."

The capital of Anbar province, Ramadi was taken by IS militants in May in a major blow to government efforts to recapture lands under the group's control. IS holds about a third of Iraq and Syria.