As Iraqi government forces come closer to retaking Tikrit, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria launched a retaliatory attack on a city west of the capital, Baghdad.
According to the New York Times, Islamic State bombers detonated 21 car bombs in a coordinated and near simultaneous attack in the city of Ramadi on Wednesday. An Iraqi official told the New York Times that there were 10 fatalities in the attack, while at least 30 people were wounded.
Ramadi is the capital of Iraq's Anbar state and is only 60 miles or 100 kilometers west of Baghdad.
Ramadi police Major Mustafa Samir told the Al Arabiya newspaper that the suicide bombers were riding Humvees when they entered the city.
"At around 7:00 am (0400 GMT), IS launched ... attacks with suicide bombers driving Humvees in the areas of Hawz, Malaab, Toi, Albu Faraj and Albu Eitha," the police official said. Samir confirmed that 10 people were killed by the bombs.
The police official told Al Arabiya that fighting followed after the bombing. However, Anbar's Governor Sohaib al-Rawi said the militants failed to gain any ground during the clashes in Ramadi.
"Our brave security forces were ready and had excellent intelligence about the operation," al-Rawi said, according to Newsweek. "What happened in Ramadi today is a clear victory for Anbar."
A terrorism analyst the Risk Advisory Group said the attacks were possibly in retaliation for the Iraqi successes in the ongoing Tikrit campaign.
"Yes, it's probably retaliatory. It's a return to the usual guerilla tactics as opposed to an all-out insurgency," consultant Judith Jacob told Newsweek. "But I do not think this is an indication of renewed strength."
Iraqi government forces, aided by Shiite militias and elements of the Iranian Republican Guard, have succeeded in pushing back ISIS elements in the towns around Tikrit as they prepare to mount an offensive to retake the Sunni-dominated city in preparation for the spring offensive to liberate Mosul.
