Roundup: Iraqi army advances to retake Fallujah as protests cast shadow on ongoing operations

The Iraqi army has gained some headway in military operations to retake Fallujah in the country's western province of Anbar after four days of battles against the Islamic State (IS) militants.

However, protesters, mainly supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, threatened to rally at the Green Zone on Friday, demanding substantial reforms and government reshuffle.

The army has retaken more than a dozen villages and towns around Fallujah city which fell into IS hands in 2014, despite harsh resistance from the militants. On Thursday, IS members launched a series of suicide attacks against the forces in Albu Shejil area west of Fallujah, which were repelled, leaving three car bombs destroyed and six militants killed, a local security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, heavy clashes took place on Thursday morning between IS militants and the army who are covered by warplanes and artillery in Jughafi and Sajar areas north of Fallujah, during which more than 30 IS militants were killed, the source said, adding that four soldiers were also killed.

Thursday clashes with IS militants are part of major offensive declared on Monday morning by Abadi aimed at claiming Fallujah from IS militants who took control of the city for about two and a half years.

Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul, spokesman for the Joint Military Command, said that intelligence reports indicate that about 400 to 600 militants are in Fallujah, many of them foreigners. He said about 50,000 to 70,000 civilians are expected to remain in Fallujah.

More than 100 IS militants were killed since Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the operations on Monday.

"The offensive aiming to free Fallujah has begun. Fallujah's liberation alarm has rung, and the great victory is approaching, when IS militants will have no option except to flee," Abadi said then while addressing the nation on the state-run Iraqiya television channel.

"Fallujah will return to Iraqis similar to the hundreds of villages and towns which were returned to its people and were liberated from the IS oppression and treachery," he said.

The interior ministry said the army has almost accomplished the first stage of tightening siege on Fallujah and will soon start to break into the city.

The army called on the remaining residents in Fallujah to prepare leaving the town through safe corridors on Sunday, one day before the operations started. It also asked the residents to raise white flags at their houses, and to stay away from IS militants, as they will be targeted by airstrikes. But IS militants cut the corridors with snipers and roadside bombs.

"The security forces are close to accomplish the first stage, as they achieved great victories so far and freed many areas and villages outside Fallujah," Interior Minister Mohammed Salim al-Ghaban said.

"IS is using civilians as human shields to stop the troops' advance, but the security forces took a package of measures aimed at isolating the residential areas to spare the lives of the civilians," he added.

Dozens of civilians were killed in battles by random fire and artillery from both sides, according to local media.

However, the situation in the capital Baghdad, which is 50 km east of Fallujah, is on alert as a possible violent protest is expected to be held on Friday.

Last week, hundreds of protesters broke into the heavily fortified Green Zone by force. Dozens were injured and three killed during clashes with security forces firing tear gas and warning shots.

Protesters withdrew from the government compound in the evening on May 20 after they entered the prime minister's office and parliament.

The prime minister visited the army on Thursday morning, hailing the victories they achieved and also appealing to Sadr's followers to postpone protests so the government could focus efforts on freeing Fallujah from IS militants.

"We call on our dear young people to postpone demonstrations until the liberation of Fallujah, because our forces are busy with the liberation," Abadi said during his visit to Fallujah Operations Command.

"This battle requires great effort. (Although) it is their right (to demonstrate), but it will impose pressure on our forces which have to provide the needed protection (for the protests)," said Abadi, who is also commander-in-chief of Iraqi forces.

Protests have been organized almost every Friday in recent months outside Green Zone when people demanded reforms. But it has turned violent since early this month, which raised fears that the country could slipped into a prolonged political crisis.

The army announced in late March military operations to reclaim the northern city of Mosul, the second largest city in the country, but this operation was also delayed due to political struggle in the capital.

During the past few months, the army, security forces and allied paramilitary forces carried out operations around Mosul and Fallujah to tighten the grip on the besieged city and nearby towns in order to free them from IS militants. Endit