Iraq's Anbar in 'total collapse', on brink of falling to Islamic State

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Islamic State militants claimed full control of the western Iraqi city of Ramadi on Sunday in the biggest defeat for the Baghdad government since last summer.

In a statement, the group said it had seized tanks and killed "dozens of apostates", its description for members of the Iraqi security forces.

Ramadi is the capital of Iraq's western Anbar province, which is dominated by Sunni Muslims. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi signed off on the deployment of Shi'ite militias to attempt to seize back the area, a move he had previously resisted for fear of provoking a sectarian backlash. (READ MORE)