Iraqi military forces 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. Iraqi forces say they have secured the southern edge of Falluja, two weeks after the launch of an operation to recapture the city from Isis. Al-Saadi ’s comments came after the commander of the Iraqi paramilitary organisation, Hashed al-Shaabi, which is dominated by units that enjoy the backing of Iran, announced that his forces would enter Falluja if other efforts to retake the city were deemed to be too slow. The US has been reluctant to provide direct support for Sunni tribal fighters fighting against IS because it fears such groups could become a threat to its own interests and those of Shi’ite Iran.
Iraqi military forces 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-Shaabi, which is dominated by units that enjoy the backing of Iran, announced that his forces would enter Falluja if other efforts to retake the city were deemed to be too slow. The US has been reluctant to provide direct support for Sunni tribal fighters fighting against IS because it fears such groups could become a threat to its own interests and those of Shi’ite Iran.