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| IS conflict: Iraq forces retake remote western town of Rutba | IS conflict: Iraq forces retake remote western town of Rutba |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Iraqi government forces have regained control of a remote western town from the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says. | Iraqi government forces have regained control of a remote western town from the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says. |
| Mr Abadi announced that counter-terrorism troops, backed by tribesmen and US-led coalition air strikes, had raised the Iraqi flag in central Rutba. | Mr Abadi announced that counter-terrorism troops, backed by tribesmen and US-led coalition air strikes, had raised the Iraqi flag in central Rutba. |
| Rutba was an important "support zone" used by IS to stage operations further north and east, the coalition said. | Rutba was an important "support zone" used by IS to stage operations further north and east, the coalition said. |
| The town, on the main road to Jordan, was seized by IS two years ago. | The town, on the main road to Jordan, was seized by IS two years ago. |
| It is also located south of a key IS-controlled border crossing with Syria, which the group uses to move militants and supplies to its strongholds in Iraq. | It is also located south of a key IS-controlled border crossing with Syria, which the group uses to move militants and supplies to its strongholds in Iraq. |
| Despite its importance, the coalition believed Rutba was not as heavily defended as the IS-held city of Falluja, with as few as 100 militants based there. | |
| What is Islamic State? | What is Islamic State? |
| IS crisis in seven charts | IS crisis in seven charts |
| The recapture of Rutba, 360km (225 miles) west of the capital Baghdad, is the latest victory for Iraqi government forces in the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar. | The recapture of Rutba, 360km (225 miles) west of the capital Baghdad, is the latest victory for Iraqi government forces in the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar. |
| Troops and allied Sunni tribal fighters last month retook the town of Hit and in February declared that the provincial capital Ramadi had been fully liberated. | Troops and allied Sunni tribal fighters last month retook the town of Hit and in February declared that the provincial capital Ramadi had been fully liberated. |
| Iraqi and coalition officials believe the battlefield losses have prompted IS to turn increasingly to bombing civilian areas. | Iraqi and coalition officials believe the battlefield losses have prompted IS to turn increasingly to bombing civilian areas. |
| A wave of attacks in and around Baghdad in the past week has left some 200 people dead. | A wave of attacks in and around Baghdad in the past week has left some 200 people dead. |
| At least 69 civilians were killed on Tuesday in three separate bombings at markets in two mainly Shia districts of the city, and a fourth that targeted shoppers in a mixed Sunni-Shia area. | At least 69 civilians were killed on Tuesday in three separate bombings at markets in two mainly Shia districts of the city, and a fourth that targeted shoppers in a mixed Sunni-Shia area. |