Iraqi forces have reclaimed a large part of the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State militant group, officials told AFP. Backed by United States-led airstrikes, Iraqi troops launched an offensive on IS militants in the city in November in a bid to retake it, reported the Military Times.

Ramadi was captured by IS in May this year and was one of the militant group's biggest strongholds. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Iraqi army’s attempt to retake the city is widely seen as a test of preparedness for a planned future offensive in Mosul, which is the country's second-largest city and the most populous under IS control.