The Iraqi military has expanded its zone of control around the city of Ramadi, and now has direct access to a major army base in the western part of the country. Reuters reports that Iraqi forces seized control of the road that passes through al-Khaldiya, which links Ramadi to Baghdad and the Habbaniya military base. Ramadi was recaptured from the Islamic State in December, and represented a significant victory for the Iraqi military. Control over the road through al-Khaldiya will allow security forces to more readily support Ramadi, as well as improve their ability to apply pressure to Falluja – which is still under Islamic State control.
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