Iraqi troops closing in on Fallujah in liberation operation
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Iraqi federal police officers stand at the front line during the fight against Daesh terrorists outside Fallujah
Iraqi forces have encircled Fallujah as part of a massive military operation to liberate the central city from the grip of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.
“We are advancing on and closing in,” Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier Rasool Yahya said, adding, “Our forces have isolated and surrounded the city of Fallujah,” Yahya told Qatar’s al-Jazeera television.
The first phase of the liberation operation was completed, he said, adding, “We have achieved our objectives.”
Leader of Popular Mobilization (Hashid al-Shaabi) units in Anbar Province announced on Saturday the beginning of the second phase of the Fallujah liberation a week since the battle began.
Some 50,000 civilians remain trapped in the city, with the United Nations saying it has reports of people dying of starvation and for refusing to fight for Daesh.
On Saturday, Iraqi forces said they had found underground tunnels dug by the extremists to approach and escape the Fallujah frontline.
EA
