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More than 2,000 families have fled from the Iraqi city of Ramadi, an official said Thursday, as ISIS militants advanced on the provincial capital of the western Anbar province, clashing with Iraqi troops, The Daily Star reported citing news agencies.

The extremist group, which has controlled the nearby city of Fallujah for more than a year, captured three villages on Ramadi’s eastern outskirts Wednesday. The advance is widely seen as a counteroffensive after the ISIS group lost the city of Tikrit earlier this month.

Sattar Nowruz, from the Ministry of Migration and Displaced, said those fleeing Ramadi have settled in southern and western Baghdad suburbs.

Tents, food and other aid are being sent to them, he said.

The ministry is also assessing the situation with the provincial government in order “to provide the displaced people, who are undergoing difficult conditions, with better services and help,” Nowruz said.