Spotlight: Iraq poised to recover IS-held Fallujah

Iraqi security forces are now in the final stage of recovering the IS-held city of Fallujah, which analysts said could temporarily relieve pressure on the embattled Iraqi government.

The government forces on Monday launched the final stage of an offensive aimed at freeing the city of Fallujah and nearby areas from Islamic State (IS) militants.

The troops and allied Shiite and Sunni paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, started their advance toward their targets in Fallujah before dawn, Sabah Nu'man, a spokesman for anti-terrorism force, told the state-run Iraqiya channel.

The troops, covered by U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi aircraft, have faced weak resistance so far, Nu'man said, adding that many of the extremist militants have been killed during the operation.

The jihadists had so far used snipers, booby-traps and suicide car bombs in the battle, said Yahya Rasool, spokesman for the Joint Operations Command coordinating the fight against the IS in Iraq.

The government forces have yet to get into the center of the city some 50 km west of Baghdad, but they recaptured some areas in the southern suburb.

An urban warfare is expected in the city, and the fate of at least 50,000 civilians unable to flee before the fight erupted has aroused great concern.

Information obtained by the army showed that some 400 to 600 IS militants are holding 50,000 to 70,000 civilians within the city and around its suburb areas, said Rasool.

Meanwhile, Iraqi forces and Hashd Shaabi units recaptured Shieha area north of the IS-held town of Saqlawiyah, northwest of Fallujah, after fierce clashes with the IS militants, a local security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Monday's operation came a day after the security forces said that they have completed preparations for a final attack to retake Fallujah.

On May 23, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launch of the offensive to retake Fallujah.

The announcement was made at a time when the country is grappling with a chaos surrounding cabinet reshuffle.

Abadi visited the army on Thursday, hailing the victories they achieved and also appealing to anti-government demonstrators to stop their protests so the government could focus efforts on freeing Fallujah from the 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 the 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. Endi