- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Iraqi Forces Liberate 47 Settlements Since Launch of Fallujah Offensive

© REUTERS / Alaa Al-MarjaniIraqi security forces sit in military vehicles in the Nuaimiya suburb of Fallujah, Iraq
Iraqi security forces sit in military vehicles in the Nuaimiya suburb of Fallujah, Iraq - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The Iraqi forces together with local militia have liberated 47 settlements from Daesh militants since the beginning of the Fallujah offensive.

Smoke rises as Iraqi military forces prepare for an offensive into Fallujah to retake the city from Islamic State militants in Iraq, Monday, May 30, 2016 - Sputnik International
Iraqi Army Liberates Major Town Northwest of Fallujah From Daesh
BAGHDAD (Sputnik) — The Iraqi armed forces and local militia have liberated 47 settlements from Daesh militants since the beginning of the operation to liberate the city of Fallujah, Abu Mahdi Muhandis, a deputy leader of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Force, said Sunday.

"Fallujah is a powerful military stronghold of the enemy. 80 percent of terrorist attacks in Baghdad were planned and carried out by terrorists who settled down in this city. We have liberated 47 settlements in its neighborhood as of now," Muhandis told reporters adding that Fallujah has been "completely surrounded with an exception of a bottleneck near the Euphrates River."

According to Muhandis, up to 2,500 terrorists, 10 percent of whom are foreigners, can still be in the city.

The Iraqi Army and Shiite militias, backed by US airstrikes, launched the offensive to retake Fallujah on May 22.

Fallujah, located some 42 miles west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, is one of the largest cities in the Anbar province. Daesh, outlawed in many countries including Russia, has been in control of the city since 2014.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала