In the deserted, recently reconquered neighbourhoods of the insurgent bastion known in Iraq as the “City of Mosques”, elite forces were consolidating positions, stocking up on food and weapons.
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Islamic State fighters had prevented residents from leaving, using them as human shields and playing on fears that Shiite militias would carry out revenge attacks on the predominantly Sunni residents.
“Go, may God be with you”, another militant said to the attacker.
It is symbolically important to both sides: Many of the Iraqi forces fought al-Qaida in Iraq-the predecessor to IS-in this same territory, and the city was the scene of some of the bloodiest urban combat with USA forces in 2004.
A Reuters photographer in a southern district of Falluja said clashes involving aerial bombardment, artillery and machine gun fire were continuing. Discussions about this operation are being held between al-Abadi and General Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). Our security forces control the city except for small pockets that need to be cleared within the coming hours.
Iraqi security forces celebrate as they pose with a flag of the Islamic State group they captured in central Fallujah, Iraq, after fight against the Islamic State militants Friday, June 17, 2016.
Thousands of civilians fled across the Euphrates River as Iraqi forces raised the national flag over the government complex in Fallujah and seized complete control of other key buildings including the hospital. Numerous remaining IS militants retreated from the fight, which allowed thousands more Fallujah residents to flee the city. Karl Schembri, of the Norwegian Refugee Council, speaking from a camp in Amiriyat al-Fallujah near the city, said it had been “overwhelmed” by 25,000 arrivals in two days.
The government forces are advancing along a desert path west of the main motorway linking Baghdad to Mosul, which is lined with mines and runs through villages that have a heavy ISIL presence, said Col. Mohammed Al-Assadi, an Iraqi army spokesman.
Aid agencies said there was a dramatic surge of civilians out of Fallujah overnight and that they were struggling to provide even the most basic assistance to those displaced.
Counterterrorism forces, the Iraqi army and Sunni fighters were involved in the fighting in Salahuddin province, the military said in a statement. “We promised to liberate Fallujah, and it has returned to the embrace of the nation”, he said. Iraqi forces have made rapid gains in Fallujah, Iraq, and opened a second front in the ISIS stronghold of Mosul, while US -backed Syrian forces have made significant advances as well.
An Iraqi forces tank moves into Fallujah, Iraq. Still, Ismail said, he saw one mine blow up, killing at least two people, before the crowd made it to Iraq military-controlled territory.
According to the Washington Post, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared Iraqi victory over the militants on Friday, June 17th.
Falah al-Issawi, deputy head of the Anbar provincial council, said 63,000 civilians had fled the operation in Fallujah.
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Attention also turned to a new area Saturday. Abadi tried to assure the displaced that security forces had sacrificed their lives so they could return to live in “security and peace.”Men who have fled have been detained for security screening”. Humanitarian aid efforts are underway to assist those who have fled throughout the course of the offensive.
