BAGHDAD — Officials in Iraq’s western Anbar province say government forces have retaken Anbar University from the Islamic State militant group after hours of fierce clashes.

Athal al-Fahdawi, a provincial councilman, says Iraqi troops are in full control of the university, located 3 miles south of Anbar’s provincial capital, the militant-held city of Ramadi. He adds that a number of buildings in and around the university complex have been badly damaged or destroyed.

Another Anbar councilman, Faleh al-Issawi, tells the Associated Press that about two dozen Islamic State fighters were killed in the clashes. He declined to provide more details.

The Iraqi military launched a large-scale operation this month to retake Anbar province, in which most of the biggest cities are held by the Islamic State group.