Iraqi Troops Free Ezadi, Christian Women Abducted by ISIL in Fallujah

Date: 22 June 2016 - 21:24

News ID: ۲۸۱۰۲

BAGHDAD (FNA) – Iraqi security forces released a significant number of hostages and civilians abducted by ISIL among them dozens of Ezadis and Christians as they are clearing more districts in the newly liberated city of Fallujah, an Iraqi military official said.
"Many of freed ISIL prisoners are civilians from Mosul and even Syrian women,” Zulfiqar Baldavi, the head of the Iraqi volunteer force of "Hashd al-Sha’abi” said, Sputnik reported.
The head of the Iraqi popular force supporting the Iraqi Army in the operation against ISIL in the city of Fallujah added that still some ISIL remnants are active in Fallujah as "everyone knows that the city of Fallujah has lots of large tunnels, alleys and other places where there can be resistance”.
Iraqi security forces almost completely recaptured Fallujah from ISIL. They also took control of the administration buildings in the city center. But the terrorists are still keeping the resistance, holding individual streets and houses, Zulfiqar Baldavi, said.
"The city of Fallujah has returned under the control of the Iraqi armed forces, which include the federal police forces and popular forces of Hashd al-Sha’abi.
In military terms, the city is completely released as Iraqi forces are present in all major districts,” Baldavi said.
"Right now there is an ongoing operation to clean up the last strongholds of the extremist group. There is a continuous search for ISIL terrorists in tunnels, buildings and other secret locations.”
The head of the popular force also explained that the operation North of the province of Salaheddin, on the border with Nineveh province, has some distinct features, since the operation is not occurring at the initiative of the Iraqi government and the country’s Ministry of Defense.
"We have received information that this operation, which its main goal seemingly is to liberate the military airfield Qayyarah Airfield, is taking place at the initiative of the United States, as US forces want to assign this base to themselves in the future and make it a place of basing their aircraft,” Baldavi concluded.