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| Iraqi PM Abadi visits Ramadi after capture from IS | Iraqi PM Abadi visits Ramadi after capture from IS |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has landed by helicopter in Ramadi, a day after the city's liberation from the Islamic State (IS) group. | Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has landed by helicopter in Ramadi, a day after the city's liberation from the Islamic State (IS) group. |
| He is to meet security officials and commanders in the city. Earlier, he vowed IS would be eliminated from Iraq in 2016. | He is to meet security officials and commanders in the city. Earlier, he vowed IS would be eliminated from Iraq in 2016. |
| He said the recapture of Iraq's second city, Mosul, would be the "final blow". | He said the recapture of Iraq's second city, Mosul, would be the "final blow". |
| The recapture of Ramadi was welcomed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said IS had suffered a major defeat. | The recapture of Ramadi was welcomed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said IS had suffered a major defeat. |
| The city's capture in May was an embarrassing defeat for the army. | The city's capture in May was an embarrassing defeat for the army. |
| Iraqi government forces had been fighting to retake the city - about 90km (55 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad - for weeks. | Iraqi government forces had been fighting to retake the city - about 90km (55 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad - for weeks. |
| Also on Monday around 100 families who had been stranded in the city were in the process of being taken to the town of Habbaniya, also in Anbar province. | Also on Monday around 100 families who had been stranded in the city were in the process of being taken to the town of Habbaniya, also in Anbar province. |
| Analysis: By Michael Knights, Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Analysis: By Michael Knights, Washington Institute for Near East Policy |
| With the Ramadi operation beginning to wind down, IS knows that the main event - the battle for Mosul - will now begin. | With the Ramadi operation beginning to wind down, IS knows that the main event - the battle for Mosul - will now begin. |
| IS could try another diversionary attack, but the Iraqi and Syrian forces are now better prepared and supported with air power from the US-led coalition. | IS could try another diversionary attack, but the Iraqi and Syrian forces are now better prepared and supported with air power from the US-led coalition. |
| The slow preparatory phases of the battle for Mosul is likely to unfold in the first half of 2016. | The slow preparatory phases of the battle for Mosul is likely to unfold in the first half of 2016. |
| First, the next IS defensive bulwarks will be ground down - the oil-refining hub Qayyarah and other Tigris River valley towns south of Mosul. | First, the next IS defensive bulwarks will be ground down - the oil-refining hub Qayyarah and other Tigris River valley towns south of Mosul. |
| Then the city will be slowly encircled in the summer, and air strikes will intensify on IS leadership and logistical targets. Then the assault will begin once the summer heat dies down in the autumn of 2016. | Then the city will be slowly encircled in the summer, and air strikes will intensify on IS leadership and logistical targets. Then the assault will begin once the summer heat dies down in the autumn of 2016. |
| Read more from Michael Knights | Read more from Michael Knights |
| Islamic State conflict | Islamic State conflict |
| Life under IS | Life under IS |
| Viewpoint: How to defeat IS | Viewpoint: How to defeat IS |
| Army spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Rasul Ramadi - capital of mainly Sunni Muslim Anbar province - had been "liberated" in an "epic" victory. | Army spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Rasul Ramadi - capital of mainly Sunni Muslim Anbar province - had been "liberated" in an "epic" victory. |
| Iraqi officials gave no immediate death toll from the battle. | Iraqi officials gave no immediate death toll from the battle. |
| The BBC's Thomas Fessy, who is in Ramadi, says the fighting has destroyed the urban landscape. | The BBC's Thomas Fessy, who is in Ramadi, says the fighting has destroyed the urban landscape. |
| He says that booby traps are everywhere and that Iraqi troops are still hunting retreating militants in parts of the city. | He says that booby traps are everywhere and that Iraqi troops are still hunting retreating militants in parts of the city. |
| Mr Kerry congratulated Iraqi forces for "displaying tremendous perseverance and courage". | Mr Kerry congratulated Iraqi forces for "displaying tremendous perseverance and courage". |
| "While Ramadi is not yet fully secure and additional parts of the city still must be retaken, Iraq's national flag now flies above the provincial government centre and enemy forces have suffered a major defeat," he said. | "While Ramadi is not yet fully secure and additional parts of the city still must be retaken, Iraq's national flag now flies above the provincial government centre and enemy forces have suffered a major defeat," he said. |
| 'Not the end of the crisis': Press reaction | 'Not the end of the crisis': Press reaction |
| Middle East press reaction to the retaking of Ramadi ranges from hope that this development marks a turning point in the struggle against IS to reminders that the group has yet to be dislodged from other parts of the country. | Middle East press reaction to the retaking of Ramadi ranges from hope that this development marks a turning point in the struggle against IS to reminders that the group has yet to be dislodged from other parts of the country. |
| Iraqi pro-Shia newspaper al-Adalah says: "The huge victories that were achieved by security forces indicate that the end of terrorism is imminent." | Iraqi pro-Shia newspaper al-Adalah says: "The huge victories that were achieved by security forces indicate that the end of terrorism is imminent." |
| Jordan's pro-government daily al-Rai writes: "The battle of Ramadi is not over. We still have to liberate Mosul." | Jordan's pro-government daily al-Rai writes: "The battle of Ramadi is not over. We still have to liberate Mosul." |
| Saudi-owned London-based al-Hayat says: "Iraqi troops have entered Ramadi and Islamic State gunmen have retreated. But its liberation will not be the end of the crisis. In order to return to normal life, there are political struggles to be resolved, as well as expected tribal vendettas and the challenges of rebuilding." | Saudi-owned London-based al-Hayat says: "Iraqi troops have entered Ramadi and Islamic State gunmen have retreated. But its liberation will not be the end of the crisis. In order to return to normal life, there are political struggles to be resolved, as well as expected tribal vendettas and the challenges of rebuilding." |
| Troops finally captured the government compound on Sunday, flushing out or killing IS fighters and suicide bombers who had been holding out in its buildings. | Troops finally captured the government compound on Sunday, flushing out or killing IS fighters and suicide bombers who had been holding out in its buildings. |
| Brig Gen Majid al-Fatlawi, of the army's 8th division, told the AFP news agency that IS fighters had "planted more than 300 explosive devices on the roads and in the buildings of the government complex". | Brig Gen Majid al-Fatlawi, of the army's 8th division, told the AFP news agency that IS fighters had "planted more than 300 explosive devices on the roads and in the buildings of the government complex". |
| In the fight for Ramadi, the government chose not to deploy the powerful Shia-dominated paramilitary force that helped it regain the mainly Sunni northern city of Tikrit, to avoid increasing sectarian tensions. | In the fight for Ramadi, the government chose not to deploy the powerful Shia-dominated paramilitary force that helped it regain the mainly Sunni northern city of Tikrit, to avoid increasing sectarian tensions. |