Iraqi military officials have said that they have taken the southern edge of Falluja from ISIS . Two weeks into their operation to recapture the city , Lieutenant General Abdel Wahab al - Saadi said that the southern neighbourhood of Naymiya had fallen to his forces , leaving the military poised to enter the city . Falluja was the first major city that ISIS took control of in Iraq . Al - Saadi “We are still in the area and we’ll continue to support [them] if the liberation happens quickly. ’s comments came after the commander of the Iraqi paramilitary organisation , Hashed al - Islam , which is formed by units that enjoy the backing of Iran , announced that his forces would enter Falluja if other efforts to retake the city were found to be too slow . Prime Minister Ali al - Abadi has warned against this because of fears of sectarian unrest and likely abuses against the city ’s Sunni population .
Iraqi military officials have said that they have taken the southern edge of Falluja from ISIS . Two weeks into their operation to recapture the city , Lieutenant General Abdel Wahab al - Saadi said that the southern neighbourhood of Naymiya had fallen to his forces , leaving the military poised to enter the city . Falluja was the first major city that ISIS took control of in Iraq . Al - Saadi ’s comments came after the commander of the Iraqi paramilitary organisation , Hashed al - Islam , which is formed by units that enjoy the backing of Iran , announced that his forces would enter Falluja if other efforts to retake the city were found to be too slow . Prime Minister Ali al - Abadi has warned against this because of fears of sectarian unrest and likely abuses against the city ’s Sunni population .