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BAGHDAD, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Saturday fought fierce clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants to free the last pockets of resistance in the IS stronghold in Fallujah, while other troops continue advance northward to recapture the IS-held town of Qayyara before heading to Mosul, security sources said.
The security forces clashed with IS militants in Mu'lmeen district in northern Fallujah, some 50 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, and managed to clear the district completely from the extremist militants, a statement from Joint Operations Command said.
Fallujah was also the scene of fierce clashes between the security forces backed by Iraqi aircraft, and IS militants in Golan district in northwestern the city, where most of the remaining IS militants resorted to make their last defensive line inside the city, a security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Despite the stubborn resistance by IS militants inside Golan, the troops advanced from six directions and managed to seize footholds on the edges of the district, the source said without giving details about casualties among both sides.
Late on June 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared substantial victory against IS group in Fallujah after the recapture of the government compound.
"Our troops have fulfilled their promise and freed the city of Fallujah," Abadi addressed the nation on the state-run Iraqiya television.
"Fallujah has returned to the homeland and our forces took control of the heart of the city," Abadi said.
Meanwhile, the security forces and allied paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, made another progress when the troops retook control of Azragiyah area in northwest of Fallujah and raised the Iraqi flag on its buildings after heavy clashes with IS militants, the security source said.
Government troops and allied militias have currently been fighting for months to reclaim key cities and towns in Anbar province from IS militants, who attempted to approach Baghdad after seizing most of the province.
In Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, the security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi units continued their advance northward and managed to seize Baghdad-Mosul main road in west of the IS-held town of Shirqat, some 280 km north of Baghdad, a provincial security source anonymously told Xinhua.
The troops are heading to Tlul al-Baj area to cut supply routes for Shirqat, which lies some 10 km east of Baghdad-Mosul road, the source said, adding that so far, the troops are facing weak resistance from IS militants in the open land on the main road.
The troops will either enter Shirqat or impose siege on the town and bypass it to the IS-held town of Qayyara, some 50 km south of Mosul
The operations in the province are part of a major offensive to free areas in south of Mosul, including the town of Qayyara, so as to surround Mosul from the south and east, before attacking major IS strongholds in Mosul to flush out IS militants from the city, 400 km north of Baghdad.
Iraq has witnessed intense violence since the IS controlled parts of its northern and western regions in June of 2014. Enditem
