News / Iraq / News

Iraqi forces liberate two more villages near Fallujah

Saturday, 28 May 2016 6:20 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 30 May 2016 11:11 AM ]

Iraqi forces celebrate in the al-Sejar village, in Iraq's Anbar Province, on May 27, 2016, as they take part in a major operation to retake the city of Fallujah, from Daesh terrorists. © AFP

The Iraqi army, backed by volunteer fighters, has liberated two more villages from Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the western province of Anbar, closing in on the militant-held city of Fallujah.

Iraqi media said forces wrested control over the villages of Bakareh and Mukhtar on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of Iraqi forces launched a massive operation on May 22 to recapture Fallujah, the first Iraqi city to fall to Daesh. They have already recaptured several towns and villages on the city’s outskirts.

Abdelwahab al-Saadi, the top commander in charge of the Fallujah operation, said "CTS (counter-terrorism service) forces, Anbar emergency police and tribal fighters... reached Tareq and Mazraa camps" south and east of Fallujah.

“These forces will break into Fallujah in the next few hours to liberate it from Daesh,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi forces have managed to help over two thousand people, including children, escape Fallujah, according to the Iraqi broadcaster Alsumaria.

Fallujah lies located about 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Daesh overran Fallujah in January 2014, some six months before the terrorist group launched a major offensive in Iraq and took over some other areas.

The Iraqi military recaptured the central city of Ramadi, Anbar’s provincial capital, last December.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk