RAMADI, Iraq, May 15 (UPI) -- Islamic State militants took control over the government sector of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's largest province on Friday.
Though the city has not officially been declared a loss -- some fighting was still ongoing Friday evening -- the defeat for Iraqi troops would be considered a major setback. The Iraqi army has been battling IS militants for months in Anbar province.
The assault on Ramadi began after dark Thursday as IS militants dressed in Iraqi Army uniforms and driving Humvees set off six suicide car bombs at police headquarters and the governor's office. At least 50 police officers were allegedly taken prisoner and 10 were killed, officials said.
Sheikh Omar Shihan al-Alwani, a local tribal leader, told The New York Times more than a dozen families were killed in the fighting.
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"We asked our fighters to leave their weapons and withdraw," he said. "Otherwise, we would lose them all."
By 2 p.m. local time Friday, the IS flag was raised over the government complex.
With this takeover, IS -- also identified by the acronyms ISIS and ISIL -- could see itself as the de facto ruler of all Anbar province.
In the wake of IS' advances, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday that the United States would expedite a shipment of weapons. The shipment includes AT-4 shoulder-held rockets, ammunition and other supplies.
"The vice president assured the prime minister of continued and expedited U.S. security assistance to confront ISIL," a statement from the White House said. "Both leaders agreed on the importance and urgency of mobilizing tribal fighters working in coordination with Iraqi security forces to counter ISIL and to ensure unity of effort among all of Iraq's communities."
Ramadi is located about 80 miles west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
