Iraqi forces dislodge IS militants from Garma

Record ID: 101848

  • Title: Iraqi forces dislodge IS militants from Garma
  • Date: 26th May 2016
  • Summary: GARMA, NEAR FALLUJA, ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ (MAY 26, 2016) (REUTERS) VEHICLE CARRYING SHI'ITE MILITIA OF HASHID SHAABI DRIVING PAST DESTROYED BUILDINGS IN GARMA DISTRICT MINARET OF MOSQUE / AUDIO OF CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE IRAQI FORCES AND VEHICLES IN CENTRE OF DISTRICT GROUP OF IRAQI FORCES INCLUDING ARMY, POLICE AND HASHID SHAABI CELEBRATING BY FIRING INTO AIR / AUDIO OF CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE IRAQI FORCES / PLUME OF BLACK SMOKE RISING BEHIND BUILDINGS COLUMN OF IRAQI ARMY ON ROAD AND SOLDIERS FIRING INTO AIR IN CELEBRATION / AUDIO OF CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE CHEERING GROUP OF IRAQI ARMY GATHERING AT ROUNDABOUT TO CELEBRATE HASHID SHAABI FIGHTERS PATROLLING STREETS OF GARMA / DESTROYED BUILDING LINING STREET AND SCATTERED DEBRIS LITTERING STREET DESTROYED BUILDING SCATTERED DEBRIS LITTERING ROAD IN DISTRICT GROUP OF HASHID SHAABI FIGHTERS NEAR BURNT OUT ISLAMIC STATE VEHICLE IN MIDDLE OF STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF BAGHDAD OPERATIONS COMMAND, GENERAL ABDUL AMIR AL-SHIMMARI, SAYING: "Troops advancing from the north and troops of the 6th division coming from the east, alongside police and Hashid Shaabi forces advancing from the south, all met in the centre of Garma district. Now, troops are going west towards the al-Sijar area and will keep going forward and removing bombs. Army aviation played an important role in providing support to the advancing troops and cleansing the district." IRAQI ARMOURED VEHICLE DRIVING IN STREET / IRAQI SOLDIER ON TOP MAKING "V" SIGN IRAQI SOLDIER DRIVING MILITARY VEHICLE AND TAKING PICTURE WITH HIS MOBILE GROUP OF IRAQI FORCES IN STREET / PLUME OF SMOKE AT FAR END IRAQI MILITARY VEHICLES NEAR MOSQUE GROUP OF IRAQI ARMY AND HASHID SHAABI FIGHTERS IN STREET
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2016 15:00
  • Keywords: Falluja militants stronghold Iraq offensive Islamic State
  • Location: GARMA, ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ
  • City: GARMA, ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Insurgencies
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014JG4287
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Iraqi forces on Thursday (May 26) dislodged Islamic State militants from Garma, a village to the east of the city of Falluja, during the fourth day of an assault to retake the militant stronghold just west of Baghdad, as international concern mounted for the security of civilians.
    Falluja, a bastion of the Sunni Muslim jihadists 50 km (30 miles) from Baghdad, was the first city to fall to Islamic State, in January 2014. Six months later, the group declared a caliphate spanning large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
    Patrolling the streets of Garma on foot and military vehicles, Iraqi forces celebrated the recapturing of the district, firing into the air, cheering and taking pictures.
    "Troops advancing from the north and troops of the 6th division coming from the east besides police and Hashid Shaabi forces advancing from the south all met in the centre of Garma district. Now, troops are going west towards al-Sijar area and will keep going forward and removing bombs," confirmed General Abdul Amir al-Shimmari, head of Baghdad Operations Command who entered the district with the troops, adding that air support had played a crucial role in the success.
    Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the offensive despite concerns that it could divert resources from a push later this year to retake Mosul, Islamic State's de facto capital in Iraq, and in the face of months of political chaos since his plan to appoint a cabinet of independent ministers - in a bid to fight corruption and patronage - was blocked by parliament.
    Shi'ite Muslim politicians stepped up calls on Abadi to attack Falluja after a series of devastating bombings in Baghdad and elsewhere, claimed by Islamic State, an ultra-hardline Sunni Muslim group.
    Local Sunni tribes and a coalition of mostly Shi'ite militias are supporting the army in the battle against Islamic States, whose forces in the city number between 500 and 700, according to a U.S. military estimate.
    The militias, including some backed by Shi'ite power Iran, may be restricted to operating outside the city, as they largely were in the battle to retake Ramadi six months ago, to avoid aggravating sectarian tensions with Sunni residents.
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