For the first time in 18 months, the United States-trained Iraqi army has something to cheer about. And it’s substantial.

On Sunday the military force claimed its first victory against Islamic State (ISIS, IS, ISIL, Daesh, etc.) fighters since it lost ground to the terrorist organization more than a year ago. This time around? They retook the provincial capital in their native land west of Baghdad, the coveted Ramadi.

This from Reuters:

The capture of Ramadi, capital of mainly Sunni-Muslim Anbar province in the Euphrates River valley west of the capital, deprives Islamic State militants of their biggest prize of 2015. The fighters seized it in May after government troops fled in a defeat which prompted Washington to take a hard look at strategy in its ongoing air war against the militants.

After encircling the city for weeks, the Iraqi military launched a campaign to retake it last week, and made a final push to seize the central administration complex on Sunday.

“By controlling the complex this means that we have defeated them in Ramadi,” said Sabah al-Numani, a spokesman for the force leading the fight on the government side. “The next step is to clear pockets that could exist here or there in the city.”

Local media outlets in the region showed citizens of Shi’ite cities just south of Baghdad doing a little public celebration after news broke out of the win (which meant controlling, once again, the hub of the Anbar province) with dancing, flag waving and hooting/hollering.

According to an anonymous U.S. defense official close to Reuters, however, confirmation that ISIS militants had been “completely cleared out” has yet to come down the pike.

Sadly, much of the city was destroyed in the push, as television cameras in Ramadi showed collapsed houses and streets buried in rubble. The Iraqi government said most civilians were evacuated to safety before the advance was launched.

An Anbar province official has already tapped the government to restore basic utilities and services, in the now-dilapidated metropolis, as well as begin the rebuilding process as soon as possible.