Ramadi residents who fled to Baghdad to escape fighting in their hometown are now returning home after Iraqi security forces launched military operations against the Islamic State (IS) militants occupying the city.
Late on May 17, IS militants took full control of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's largest province, after Iraqi security forces withdrew from their positions in the headquarters of the army's 8th Brigade and the provincial operations command.
The government forces then gathered at Habaniyah military base, east of Ramadi, and on Tuesday Iraqi security forces commenced two military offensives to drive the IS militants out of Ramadi, located some 110 kilometers west of Baghdad, a militia spokesman said.
"The number of people coming to take refuge has begun to drop. People feel their hometown is safe and there is no danger now. As a result of the eased situation, people have begun to return to their hometown. About 75 families returned yesterday (May 25), and as of 10:00 today (May 26), about 60 more families have returned," said Abbas Hamdi Ryhan, an officer at the operation command headquarters.
On Wednesday, the Iraqi army, police, Sunni tribal fighters and Shiite militias, known as Hashd al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces, clashed with IS extremists seeking to enter the Anbar University compound just south of Ramadi. The troops also regained full control of the al-Taash and al-Humeriyah areas south of Ramadi after driving out IS militants.
Some analysts say the fact that Shiite militias have joined the Iraqi army in fighting against the IS militants could cause conflict between Sunnis and Shiites after the situation calms down.
However, most Sunni residents say it was necessary for the Shiite militias to join the battles in Anbar Province and insist that they are not worried.
"If Hashd al-Shaabi want to cause trouble, they may choose not to come here, so there will absolutely no problem. We are all Iraqis, They are coming here to help us rather than fight against us. We take off our hats to salute those who help free our hometown," said a Sunni resident.
"I do not worry about the arrival of security forces and the Hashd al-Shaabi. They are all citizens of Iraq and brothers of us. There is no difference between us," said another Sunni resident.
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