International News

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq, (APP/AFP) – Iraqi forces have
launched a major assault to retake Fallujah, the scene of deadly battles during the US occupation and one of the toughest targets yet in Baghdad’s war on the Islamic State group.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, commander-in-chief of the armed
forces, made the announcement early Monday and then visited the battle’s operations room.
“We are beginning the operation to liberate Fallujah,” he said in a
statement. “The Iraqi flag will be raised high over the land of Fallujah.”
Abadi said that special forces, soldiers, police, militia forces and
pro-government tribesmen were taking part in the offensive to retake the city, located in Anbar province just 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad.
Iraqi forces had not yet entered the city, but an AFP photographer
near Fallujah said they were advancing while aircraft carried out strikes on targets inside the city.
Abadi’s announcement settled the issue of which IS-held city Iraq
should seek to retake next — a subject of debate among Iraqi officials and
international forces helping the country fight the jihadists.
Iraq’s second city Mosul was the US military’s recommended target,
but powerful Iraqi militias may have helped force the issue by deploying
reinforcements to the Fallujah area in preparation for an assault.
Iraqi forces have begun laying the groundwork for the recapture of
Mosul, but progress has been slow and an assault to retake the city remains far off.