Iraqi TV showed Iraqi soldiers celebrating what the government is calling the “liberation” of the city. During the live coverage, the sounds of explosions and gunfire could be heard in the background.

The city has strategic importance. Anbar province is the heartland of Iraq’s Sunni Muslim population, and Ramadi is close to Baghdad.

Rasoul said he is confident the military will retake other cities captured by ISIS.

“We will liberate all the other places like we liberated Juif al Nasser and Tikrit and Baiji and other areas.”