Iraqi forces push further into IS stronghold in Fallujah

Iraqi security forces on Wednesday made a significant progress in the battles against the Islamic State (IS) militants in the besieged city of Fallujah, while the security forces continued their clashes with IS militants in Iraq's western province of Anbar, provincial security sources said.

The troops took control of Shuhada district in southern Fallujah, some 50 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, and the troops are fighting near Sixteen Street, which separates Shuhada from the adjacent district of Nazal toward the central part of the city, a security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"The battles are underway and will continue until defeating the militants of Daesh (IS group) from Nazal district which is close to the government compound in central the city," the source said.

Wednesday's battles resulted in the killing of dozens of IS militants, along with destroying five car bombs, the source added.

The troops also fought heavy clashes with IS militants on the edge of Khadra district and managed to defeat the front defensive lines of the district which is adjacent to Shuhada district in southern Fallujah, the source said.

The latest advance in Fallujah came as the security forces have been battling IS militants after they made their first advance last week in Shuhada and raised the Iraqi flag over some of its buildings.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi army and allied Shiite paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, liberated three villages in southeast of Fallujah after driving out the extremist militants, according to a statement from the Hashd Shaabi media office.

The battles in southern Fallujah were slowed by IS militants resistance inside the city, with hundreds of hidden bombs believed to be planted by them.

The security forces are also avoiding heavy casualties among tens of thousands of civilians who are reportedly trapped inside Fallujah.

Abdul Wahab al-Saadi, Commander of the Operations Command of Fallujah Liberation, told reporters that a total of 1086 suspected IS members or supporters have been captured after being separated from dozens of thousands of displaced people who were forced to leave their homes in Fallujah.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on May 23 the launch of a major offensive to claim Fallujah and surrounding towns and areas.

Also in the province, the security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi units, backed by international and Iraqi aircraft, freed the area of Znakoura in northwest of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, after fierce clashes with IS militants, General Ismail al-Mahalawi, Commander of Anbar Operations Command said in a press release.

The battles in Zankoura came as the security forces carried out an operation to retake control of military positions in the area which were captured the day before by dozens of IS militants who also attacked the nearby areas of Albu Risha, Tway and Jeraishi in north of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, but the IS attacks on the other three areas were foiled late on Tuesday after hours of clashes with the security forces that resulted in the killing of some 25 militants, the source said.

Government troops and allied militias have currently been fighting for months to reclaim key cities and towns in Anbar from IS militants, who attempted to advance toward Baghdad after seizing most of Anbar province.

Iraq has been witnessing a wave of violence since the IS controlled parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014. Endit