Iraqi forces capture last IS bastion in Fallujah

FALLUJAH: Iraqi forces recaptured the last district held by Islamic State militants in the city of Fallujah on Sunday and the general commanding the operation declared

FALLUJAH: Iraqi forces recaptured the last district held by Islamic State militants in the city of Fallujah on Sunday and the general commanding the operation declared the battle complete after nearly five weeks of fighting.

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Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had claimed victory over Islamic State in Fallujah more than a week ago but fighting continued inside the city west of Baghdad, including in the Golan district. The offensive has been backed by a US-led coalition mostly in the form of air strikes against Islamic State.

“We announce from this place in central Golan district that it has been cleaned by the counterterrorism service and we convey the good news to the Iraqi people that the battle of Fallujah is over ,” Lieutenant General Abdul Wahab al-Saidi said.

Flanked by jubilant fighters, some waving Iraqi flags, Saidi said a few militants were still holding out in buildings. At least 1,800 Islamic State fighters were killed in the operation to retake Fallujah, and the rest had fled, he said.

Government troops launched the operation on May 23 to retake Fallujah, a bastion of the Sunni Muslim insurgency against US forces that toppled Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, in 2003, and later against Shia-led governments.

Abadi said last week there capture of Fallujah would pave the way for the military to march on Mosul, the de facto capital of Islamic State.