fallujah Archives

Iraqi forces say Fallujah ‘fully liberated’

June 26, 2016 by administrator

General al-Saadi (center) is in charge of anti-terror forces

Iraqi troops have cleared out the last pocket of “Islamic State” (IS) resistance and ended the battle in Fallujah, a general said. The news comes over a week after Baghdad declared victory in the war-ravaged city.

The IS militants were routed from Fallujah’s northwestern al-Julan district, marking the end of the month-long battle for the city, Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahad al-Saadi said on Sunday.

The area had been “cleared by the counterterrorism service,” according to al-Saadi.

“From the center of al-Julan neighborhood, we congratulate the Iraqi people and the commander in chief… and declare that the Fallujah fight is over,” Wahad told state TV.

At least 1,800 insurgents were killed in the battle for the western city, he added.

The troops are now set to start removing bombs from the streets and buildings.

Never-ending war

The ancient city, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad, was the first to fall to the IS insurgency in early 2014. It has been under the jihadist group’s control ever since.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the IS forces last week, when Iraqi troops raised their flag above the government complex in the center of the city.

On Tuesday, however, the US-led coalition said that only one -hird of the city could be described as “cleared,” as fighting still continued in several city areas.

The city was only “fully liberated” on Sunday, according to al-Saadi.

The IS still controls large swaths of Iraq, including the country’s second-largest city of Mosul.

Fallujah also saw fierce fighting between US troops and al Qaeda militants in 2004.

Iraq Arrests 500 Daesh Suspects Trying to Sneak Out of Fallujah

June 13, 2016 by administrator

Hundreds of Daesh extremists attempted to take advantage of the ongoing evacuation of the besieged city of Fallujah by blending in with fleeing civilians.

More than 500 alleged Daesh terrorists have been arrested by Iraqi forces as they tried to flee Fallujah, one of the terrorist group’s strongholds in the western Anbar province, Daily Sabah reported.

According to police in the Anbar province, extremists tried to leave besieged Fallujah by using fake IDs.

“We have arrested 546 suspected terrorists who had fled by taking advantage of the movements of displaced families over the past two weeks,” said Hadi Rzayej, the police chief for Anbar province.

“Daesh (IS) is fleeing among the civilians, we have arrested many and are investigating the suspects,” said Lieutenant General Abdelwahab al-Saadi, the commander in charge of the operation to recapture Fallujah.

There are estimated to still be 1,000-2,000 Daesh members at the scene of fighting. Government forces are thoroughly screening the fleeing civilians, separating teenagers and adults.

Fallujah, located about 65 kilometers to the west of Baghdad, was seized by Daesh in the beginning of 2014. On May 23, 2016, the country’s authorities announced the start of an operation to liberate the city.

On June 11 the Iraqi Army opened a safe corridor on the southwest of the city, allowing thousands of civilians seek shelter from the fighting. UN deputy representative to Iraq Lise Grande said Monday that over 7,000 people reached displacement camps, organized by the government of Iraq.

According to al-Saadi, it is problematic for Daesh fighters to escape Fallujah, which is almost completely cut off from the rest of its self-imposed caliphate.

Iraqi PM Announces Start of Offensive to Liberate Daesh-Occupied Fallujah

May 22, 2016 by administrator

Haider Abadi announced start of military offensive to reclaim the city of Fallujah occupied by Daesh.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi on Monday announced start of military offensive to reclaim the city of Fallujah occupied by the Islamic State (Daesh) militant group.

“It is time to liberate the city of Fallujah,” Abadi said.

He added that all kinds of the armed forces were involved in the operation, as well as several groups allied to Baghdad.

Fallujah, in the western Anbar province, has been under Daesh control since 2014. Reports emerged recently that militants of the group, banned in countries including Russia, began killing residents attempting to leave the city. Daesh is suspected of planning to use the civilian population as human shields in case of an army siege.