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US and allies conduct 24 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq US and allies conduct 24 airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq
(35 minutes later)
The US and its allies conducted 24 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq on Thursday, the US military said on Friday.The US and its allies conducted 24 air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq on Thursday, the US military said on Friday.
It said in a statement the strikes targeted Isis positions in seven areas. Four strikes near the city of Ramadi, the centre of which fell to Iraqi forces this week, hit a large tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device facility, five militant fighting positions and two heavy machine guns.It said in a statement the strikes targeted Isis positions in seven areas. Four strikes near the city of Ramadi, the centre of which fell to Iraqi forces this week, hit a large tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device facility, five militant fighting positions and two heavy machine guns.
Near Tal Afar, 11 strikes destroyed nine bunkers, five culverts and four bridges used by the militants. Near Mosul, three strikes struck a tactical unit and destroyed two heavy machine guns, six fighting positions, a weapons cache and a trench.Near Tal Afar, 11 strikes destroyed nine bunkers, five culverts and four bridges used by the militants. Near Mosul, three strikes struck a tactical unit and destroyed two heavy machine guns, six fighting positions, a weapons cache and a trench.
Related: Iraq celebrates recapture of Ramadi but victory comes at a costRelated: Iraq celebrates recapture of Ramadi but victory comes at a cost
In Ramadi, terrified families waved white flags as they emerged from homes reduced to rubble. Government troops were still battling Isis fighters holed up on Friday, five days after the army recaptured the city centre.In Ramadi, terrified families waved white flags as they emerged from homes reduced to rubble. Government troops were still battling Isis fighters holed up on Friday, five days after the army recaptured the city centre.
The provincial capital in the fertile Euphrates River valley west of Baghdad is the biggest city to have been recaptured from Isis, and the first retaken by Iraq’s army since it collapsed in the path of the militants’ advance 18 months ago.The provincial capital in the fertile Euphrates River valley west of Baghdad is the biggest city to have been recaptured from Isis, and the first retaken by Iraq’s army since it collapsed in the path of the militants’ advance 18 months ago.
The victory has been hailed as a turning point by the Iraqi government, which says its rebuilt army will soon march on Isis’ main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, and defeat the group in Iraq in 2016.The victory has been hailed as a turning point by the Iraqi government, which says its rebuilt army will soon march on Isis’ main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, and defeat the group in Iraq in 2016.
As an Iraqi army column advanced through the ruined city, an elderly woman emerged from a home waving a white flag on the end of a stick. Soon, she was followed by children, a wounded woman being pushed in a wheelbarrow and men carrying small children in their arms. They flinched as explosions could be heard in the distance.As an Iraqi army column advanced through the ruined city, an elderly woman emerged from a home waving a white flag on the end of a stick. Soon, she was followed by children, a wounded woman being pushed in a wheelbarrow and men carrying small children in their arms. They flinched as explosions could be heard in the distance.
“They [Islamic State] are not Muslims, they are beasts,” one of the men rescued from the central district told a television cameraman accompanying the advancing Iraqi column.“They [Islamic State] are not Muslims, they are beasts,” one of the men rescued from the central district told a television cameraman accompanying the advancing Iraqi column.
“We thank our security forces, from the soldiers to the generals. They saved us,” the man said before breaking into tears.“We thank our security forces, from the soldiers to the generals. They saved us,” the man said before breaking into tears.
Another man said the fighters had killed seven people who refused to come with them to another district where they were making a stand.Another man said the fighters had killed seven people who refused to come with them to another district where they were making a stand.
Related: Iraqi PM visits Ramadi after declaring Isis will be 'terminated' in 2016Related: Iraqi PM visits Ramadi after declaring Isis will be 'terminated' in 2016
Major Salam Hussein told Reuters television the militants were using families as human shields. More than 52 families had been rescued so far in the city, he said.Major Salam Hussein told Reuters television the militants were using families as human shields. More than 52 families had been rescued so far in the city, he said.
Another military officer, reached by telephone from the battlefield, said security forces were using loudspeakers to urge civilians to head toward the advancing troops, before calling air strikes from a US-led coalition on residential blocks still held by the militants.Another military officer, reached by telephone from the battlefield, said security forces were using loudspeakers to urge civilians to head toward the advancing troops, before calling air strikes from a US-led coalition on residential blocks still held by the militants.
The presence of civilians was delaying the advance of the troops eastward from the central district they captured on Sunday, where the provincial government is located, the officer said.The presence of civilians was delaying the advance of the troops eastward from the central district they captured on Sunday, where the provincial government is located, the officer said.
“Warplanes do not strike any target in central Ramadi unless they are sure there are no civilians nearby,” said the officer.“Warplanes do not strike any target in central Ramadi unless they are sure there are no civilians nearby,” said the officer.
The US strikes reported by the US military on Friday also targeted militants near Hit, Kisik, Sinjar and Sultan Abdallah.The US strikes reported by the US military on Friday also targeted militants near Hit, Kisik, Sinjar and Sultan Abdallah.