Iraq’s Government forces on Tuesday dislodged the ISIS group from two northern neighborhoods of Fallujah as an Iraqi military commander claimed the month-long offensive to recapture the city had left 2,500 ISIS militants dead.
The announcements came just days after the Government had declared the liberation of Fallujah, the last bastion of the ISIS group in the sprawling western Anbar province.
With aerial support from the US-led coalition, Iraqi special forces took control of the neighborhoods of al-Shurta and al-Jughaifi, special forces’ Brig Gen Haider al-Obeidi told The Associated Press.
He said Iraqi military engineers were clearing the streets and buildings of left-over bombs. Teaming up with paramilitary troops and backed by the US-led coalition,
Iraqi Government forces launched the large-scale Fallujah operation in late May. On Friday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory after special forces entered the city center, capturing government buildings and the central hospital.
Then, Iraqi commanders said 80 per cent of the city was under their control, though clashes were still underway in its northern parts.
In an interview with the local al-Sumaria TV, the counterterrorism forces’ chief in the Fallujah operation, lt General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, said about of 2,500 ISIS fighters have been killed in the offensive.