IS-held city of Fallujah ‘liberated’
Print Edition
A senior Iraqi commander yesterday said the city of Fallujah was “fully liberated” from Islamic State militants, after a more-than-monthlong military operation.
Iraqi troops have entered the northwestern al-Julan neighborhood, the last area of Fallujah to remain under IS control, the head of the counterterrorism forces in the operation, said Lt Gen Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi.
Al-Saadi said the operation, which began in late May, “is done and the city is fully liberated.” The Iraqi army was backed by US-led airstrikes and paramilitary troops, mostly Shiite militias.
“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,” 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.
He added that troops will start working on removing bombs from the city’s streets and buildings.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in Fallujah over a week ago, after Iraqi forces advanced into the city center and took control of a government complex. He pledged that remaining pockets of IS fighters would be cleared out within hours, but fierce clashes on the city’s northern and western edges persisted for days.
Tens of thousands of people have fled the fighting, overwhelming camps for the displaced run by the government and aid groups.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 85,000 people have fled Fallujah and the surrounding area since the offensive began.
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