ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Military confrontations in Fallujah are ongoing as Iraqi army forces have made great strides against remaining Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the town and have retaken control of 80 percent of the city.
"I can say that more than 80 percent [of the city] is controlled by our forces," Lieutenant General of the Iraqi army, Abdulwahab al-Saadi, told AFP in Fallujah.
There are still some areas in the northern parts where ISIS is holding on but Saadi is sure that they soon "will all be eliminated, God willing."
Saadi said the main flashpoint was now the Jolan neighborhood in the northwestern corner of Fallujah.
Iraqi forces are now focusing on removing roadside bombs and booby traps.
The US Defense Department confirmed the successes of the Iraqi army, announcing on Sunday that 70 percent of Fallujah has so far been liberated from ISIS.
Peter Cook, a spokesperson of the US defense department, said that over the past five weeks, at least 100 airstrikes were carried out on ISIS positions inside Fallujah.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi praised the army’s victory and announced on Friday that the city centre was under army control. “Security forces have recaptured the centre of Fallujah city,” Abadi announced.
The Iraqi army and Shiite militia known as Hashd al-Shaabi launched an offensive to regain control of Fallujah on May 22nd.
Fallujah, 60 kilometres west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, has been under ISIS control since June 2014. It was the first major centre the militant group seized control of in Iraq.
The Iraqi Prime Minister, who is also commander in chief of the Iraqi armed forces, said that Iraqi forces are cleaning up the remaining ISIS militants in the city so that those civilians who have fled can return to their homes.
“Mosul is our next target,” Abadi added.
"I can say that more than 80 percent [of the city] is controlled by our forces," Lieutenant General of the Iraqi army, Abdulwahab al-Saadi, told AFP in Fallujah.
There are still some areas in the northern parts where ISIS is holding on but Saadi is sure that they soon "will all be eliminated, God willing."
Saadi said the main flashpoint was now the Jolan neighborhood in the northwestern corner of Fallujah.
Pockets of ISIS fighters also remained in the rural areas of Hosai and Azraqiyah, immediately to the west of the city.
Iraqi forces are now focusing on removing roadside bombs and booby traps.
The US Defense Department confirmed the successes of the Iraqi army, announcing on Sunday that 70 percent of Fallujah has so far been liberated from ISIS.
Peter Cook, a spokesperson of the US defense department, said that over the past five weeks, at least 100 airstrikes were carried out on ISIS positions inside Fallujah.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi praised the army’s victory and announced on Friday that the city centre was under army control. “Security forces have recaptured the centre of Fallujah city,” Abadi announced.
The Iraqi army and Shiite militia known as Hashd al-Shaabi launched an offensive to regain control of Fallujah on May 22nd.
Fallujah, 60 kilometres west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, has been under ISIS control since June 2014. It was the first major centre the militant group seized control of in Iraq.
The Iraqi Prime Minister, who is also commander in chief of the Iraqi armed forces, said that Iraqi forces are cleaning up the remaining ISIS militants in the city so that those civilians who have fled can return to their homes.
“Mosul is our next target,” Abadi added.
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