Fallujah clashes continue between Iraqi tribesmen, Daesh terrorists

Clashes between Iraqi tribesmen and Takfiri terrorists in the city of Fallujah continued on Saturday for a second day, as Iraq’s forces go on with the battle to rid the country of terrorists.

"Armed confrontations between the sons of the Fallujah tribes and the ISIL terrorist organization are continuing," an army brigadier general said.

Fallujah, which lies about 50 km west of the capital, Baghdad, is considered to be one of the two main strongholds of the Takfiri terrorists. The other city is Mosul in northern Iraq, which fell to the militants in the summer of 2014.

Current clashes are in the Jolan district in northwest Fallujah and Nazal in the center, the general said, adding that the army was shelling Daesh positions on the outskirts.

There have been casualties among both the tribesmen and the militants, the officer said, without giving a number.

Saadun Obaid al-Shaalan, who was elected by a local council to administer the Fallujah area, also confirmed that the clashes continue, saying that tribesmen had posted snipers on rooftops in the Askari area of eastern Fallujah.

He said the tribesmen were in need of help. "We are trying to obtain that support" from the government, he added.

Iraqi officials said the clashes began on Friday as a fight between members of one of the local tribes and the militants, but later the clashes escalated as members of other local tribes joined in the anti-Daesh fight.

SS