Days after Iraqi forces claimed a key victory in retaking Ramadi, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) rocked the city with a series of suicide car bombs, the Associated Press reported.
Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Belawi told the AP there were casualties among the government troops, but could not provide a specific figure.
{mosads}Seven suicide car bombs targeted security forces Saturday in two areas on the city’s outskirts, according to the AP.
Iraqi troops repelled the attacks and did not lose territory, al-Belawi said.
The Iraqi government and U.S. officials celebrated retaking the city Monday when security forces hoisted the Iraqi flag over the central government compound. Iraqi troops are working on clearing out the remaining ISIS fighters, who are holed up in parts of the city.
Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, had fallen to ISIS in May, the largest city captured by ISIS in 2015 and a major setback for the U.S.-backed Iraqi forces.