- Title: Iraqi forces clash with Islamic State near Falluja, bombard city centre
- Date: 24th May 2016
- Summary: SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS OF FALLUJA, ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ (MAY 23, 2016) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS FOR AG POOL) IRAQI SOLDIERS MAKING "V" SIGN ON TOP OF ADVANCING TANK IRAQI SOLDIERS ADVANCING ON FOOT IRAQI MILITARY HUMVEE DRIVING AND IRAQI SOLDIERS WALKING BEHIND SOLDIERS RUNNING GROUP OF IRAQI SOLDIERS FIRING (AUDIO OF GUNFIRE) MORE OF SOLDIERS FIRING MORTAR FIRING / SOLDIER WALKING TOWARDS IT AFTER FIRING PLUME OF SMOKE RISING SOLDIERS FIRING MACHINE GUNS SOLDIER FIRING MACHINE GUN AND OTHER HELPING WITH BULLET BELT SOLDIERS ADVANCING ON FOOT ARMOURED VEHICLE DRIVING BEHIND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARMY'S 8TH BRIGADE, CAPTAIN FARIS HUSSEIN ALI, SAYING: "Coalition planes destroyed Daesh hideouts and we are advancing from the south, towards the centre of Falluja city. Since yesterday, we have received between 60 to 70 families and we separated the women from the men. The women were taken to a camp in Amiriyat al-Falluja and we carried out security checks of the men and detained a number of them who tried to flee the city and blend among families fleeing to safe areas." IRAQI SOLDIERS NEAR VEHICLES A SOLDIER CARRYING AN RPG AND ANOTHER SOLDIER HOLDING A MACHINE-GUN SOLDIERS NEAR THEIR MILITARY VEHICLES ON DIRT ROAD
- Embargoed: 8th June 2016 10:15
- Keywords: Falluja UNHCR civilians safe corridors Islamic State Daesh soldiers Anbar
- Location: FALLUJA OUTSKIRTS, ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ
- City: FALLUJA OUTSKIRTS, ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0014J62O1Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:+++EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 CONVERTED MATERIAL +++
Iraqi government forces fought Islamic State militants near Falluja on Monday (May 23) and bombarded central districts at the outset of an offensive to retake the long-time jihadist stronghold on the western approaches to the capital Baghdad.
Some of the first direct clashes occurred in the area of al-Hayakil on Falluja's southern outskirts, a resident said. Iraqi troops also approached the northern suburb of Garma, the top municipal official there said, to clear out militants before turning their attention towards the city centre.
Seven civilians and two militants were killed in the shelling, while 21 civilians and two militants were wounded, a source at Falluja's medical centre said. There was no immediate report of casualties among Iraqi forces.
Captain Faris Hussein Ali, from the army's 8th Brigade, said they were making some gains on Islamic State strongholds in the area.
"Coalition planes destroyed Daesh hideouts and we are advancing from the south, towards the centre of Falluja city. Since yesterday, we have received between 60 to 70 families and we separated the women from the men. The women were taken to a camp in Amiriyat al-Falluja and we carried out security checks of the men and detained a number of them who tried to flee the city and blend among families fleeing to safe areas," said Hussein Ali.
Residents living in central Falluja said they had moved at dawn to relative safety in outlying northern areas but Islamic State patrols have since begun limiting movement even between neighbourhoods.
The Baghdad government has called on civilians to flee and said it would open safe corridors to southern areas, but roadside bombs have prevented most of them from leaving.
The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said 80 families that managed to flee in recent days via a main road or through agricultural fields were undergoing screening by the security forces.
It said at least three people had been killed trying to escape while 10,000 families were stuck inside "in a very precarious situation". - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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