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Falluja 'fully liberated' from Islamic State Falluja 'fully liberated' from Islamic State
(35 minutes later)
A senior Iraqi commander has declared that Falluja is fully liberated from Islamic State militants after the capture of the last district held by the militants following a month-long military operation.A senior Iraqi commander has declared that Falluja is fully liberated from Islamic State militants after the capture of the last district held by the militants following a month-long military operation.
Iraqi troops entered the north-western Golan neighbourhood, the head of the counterterrorism forces in the operation, Lt Gen Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, said on Sunday.Iraqi troops entered the north-western Golan neighbourhood, the head of the counterterrorism forces in the operation, Lt Gen Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, said on Sunday.
Al-Saadi said the operation, which began in late May, is complete and “the city is fully liberated”. The Iraqi army was backed by US-led coalition airstrikes and paramilitary troops, mostly Shia militias. Saadi said the operation, which began in late May, was complete and the city was “fully liberated”. The Iraqi army was backed by US-led coalition airstrikes and paramilitary troops, mostly Shia militias.
“From the centre of Golan neighbourhood, we congratulate the Iraqi people and the commander in chief ... and declare that the Falluja fight is over,” he told Iraqi state TV, flanked by military officers and soldiers. Some of the soldiers were shooting in the air, chanting and waving the Iraqi flag. “From the centre of Golan neighbourhood, we congratulate the Iraqi people and the commander in chief … and declare that the Falluja fight is over,” he told Iraqi state TV, flanked by military officers and soldiers. Some of the soldiers were shooting in the air, chanting and waving the Iraqi flag.
Falluja has been under the control of Isis since January 2014. Falluja had been under the control of Isis since January 2014. It was the first major urban centre to fall to the group and was once considered to be a fortress that could take months to wrest back into government control.
Isis defences collapsed suddenly four weeks into the campaign to liberate the city, which was the first major urban centre to fall to the group in January 2014 and was once considered to be a fortress that could take months to wrest back into government control.
Iraq’s prime minister, Haidar al-Abadi, declared victory over the militants on Friday, but parts of the city remained under Isis control.Iraq’s prime minister, Haidar al-Abadi, declared victory over the militants on Friday, but parts of the city remained under Isis control.
The Iraqi government faces an enormous challenge in catering for more than 80,000 refugees who have fled Falluja to camps on the city’s outskirts, and are short of water and food. The Iraqi government faces an enormous challenge in catering for more than 80,000 refugees who have fled Falluja to camps on the city’s outskirts and are short of water and food.
Karl Schembri, an official with the Norwegian Refugee Council which is running camps for displaced people, described the situation last week as deteriorating by the day and said the camps were “hell on earth”. Civilians are surviving on three litres of water a day in Iraq’s searing summer heat.Karl Schembri, an official with the Norwegian Refugee Council which is running camps for displaced people, described the situation last week as deteriorating by the day and said the camps were “hell on earth”. Civilians are surviving on three litres of water a day in Iraq’s searing summer heat.
The conflict with Isis, which also controls large parts of neighbouring Syria, has forced more than 3.4 million Iraqis to flee their homes. More than 40% of the displaced are from Anbar province, according to the UN.The conflict with Isis, which also controls large parts of neighbouring Syria, has forced more than 3.4 million Iraqis to flee their homes. More than 40% of the displaced are from Anbar province, according to the UN.
The collapse or retreat in Falluja is the latest in a string of setbacks for Isis, which has recently come under sustained pressure on many fronts in Syria and Iraq.The collapse or retreat in Falluja is the latest in a string of setbacks for Isis, which has recently come under sustained pressure on many fronts in Syria and Iraq.
The militants are close to losing one of their footholds in Syria, with US-backed Kurdish and Arab fighters besieging the town of Manbij in the province of Aleppo, an Isis outpost not far from the Turkish border which had allowed it to threaten rebel groups fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad.The militants are close to losing one of their footholds in Syria, with US-backed Kurdish and Arab fighters besieging the town of Manbij in the province of Aleppo, an Isis outpost not far from the Turkish border which had allowed it to threaten rebel groups fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Earlier this year, Isis lost Ramadi, the capital of the predominantly Sunni Anbar province, though much of the city was destroyed in the campaign. This year Isis lost Ramadi, the capital of the predominantly Sunni Anbar province, though much of the city was destroyed in the campaign.
Falluja, about 40 miles west of Baghdad, was the first city to fall to Isis in January 2014. During an insurgency waged by Isis group’s militant predecessor, al-Qaida in Iraq, Fallujah was the scene of some of the bloodiest urban combat with US forces. In 2004, more than 100 US troops died and another 1,000 were wounded fighting insurgents in house-to-house battles. During an insurgency waged by Isis group’s militant predecessor al-Qaida in Iraq, Fallujah was the scene of some of the bloodiest urban combat with US forces during the war. In 2004 more than 100 US troops died and another 1,000 were wounded fighting insurgents in house-to-house battles.
Isis still controls significant areas in northern and western Iraq, including the country’s second-largest city of Mosul. Isis still controls significant areas in northern and western Iraq, including the country’s second-largest city, Mosul.
The group declared an Islamic caliphate on the territory it holds in Iraq and Syria and at the height of its power was estimated to hold nearly a third of each country.The group declared an Islamic caliphate on the territory it holds in Iraq and Syria and at the height of its power was estimated to hold nearly a third of each country.