In an address to the nation Tuesday night, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi congratulated the Iraqi people on the liberation of Ramadi and the opening of a road connecting the western city to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Iraqi government forces regained full control of Ramadi after pushing Islamic State group fighters out of the city’s outskirts, according to Iraqi security forces and the U.S.-led coalition. The announcement, more than a month after Ramadi was first declared liberated in December, underscores the slow nature of Iraqi ground operations despite heavy backing from U.S.-led coalition airstrikes. In his national address, Abadi also called for a cabinet reshuffle to bring about “fundamental” changes that would appoint more professional and technocrats to ministerial positions. Despite beginning the year on a high note with victories in Anbar, a worsening economic crisis and political missteps have left the Iraqi leader […]