Iraqi military vehicles and troops advance towards the centre of Ramadi city December 22, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

On Tuesday, Iraq's Joint Operations Command announced in a statement that the security forces launched a major offensive to complete the capture of Ramadi and advanced into the city from several directions.

On Saturday, Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said that "Iraqi forces are close to free Ramadi" and pledged that "during the next days, Iraqi forces will free the IS-held territories in the provinces of Anbar, as well as Salahudin and Nineveh."

The latest offensive came as security forces have recently made significant advance in Ta'mim district in southern Ramadi and several areas on the edges of the city as part of their efforts to flush out IS militants from Ramadi.

The troops have been fighting for months to retake control of key cities and towns in Iraq's largest province of Anbar from the IS militants, who have seized most of Anbar and tried to advance towards Baghdad.