India welcomes liberation of Ramadi by Iraqi forces

NEW DELHI: India today welcomed "liberation" of the city of Ramadi by Iraqi forces from the control of ISIS militants and said it strongly supports Iraq's fight against terrorism and efforts to preserve territorial integrity.

"We welcome the liberation of city of Ramadi by the Iraqi armed forces from the control of ISIS. India strongly supports the Iraqi people, the government and their war against terror," Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said.

He further said India supports efforts to uphold Iraq's "national sovereignty and preserve their territorial integrity".

The Iraqi security forces last week had recaptured Ramadi from ISIS militants, seen as major blow to the dreaded militant outfit which had captured parts of Iraq including the city of Mosul.

After capturing Ramadi, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had vowed to liberate Mosul from the terrorists.

39 Indians were abducted by ISIS from Mosul in June 2014. The government has been maintaining that all of them are alive.