Falluja News

Every war front has its own tales of exemplary bravery and this is one such story emerging from Iraq – where the international forces are battling the Islamic State terror group.

Islamic State lost an area the size of Ireland - a quarter of its territory - to hostile forces in the last 18 months in Iraq and Syria and is likely to further step up attacks on civilians in coming months, IHS said in a report on Sunday. 

U.S.-led coalition aircraft waged a series of deadly strikes against Islamic State around the city of Falluja on Wednesday, U.S. officials told Reuters, with one official citing a preliminary estimate of at least 250 fighters killed and at least 40 vehicles destroyed.

Iraqi forces extend control in ISIS-held Fallujah

Government forces, with air support from the US-led coalition, launched a major operation on May 23 to retake Falluja.

Islamic State on Tuesday urged Muslims to destroy their satellite TV sets to prevent hostile channels "destroying their beliefs and polluting their ethics".

An elite military unit, the Rapid Response Team, seized the district`s police station at midday, state TV reported.

The attacks came as Iraqi forces and Shi`ite militias are fighting Islamic State militants in Falluja.

A suicide car bombing today targetted an army checkpoint in Baghdad killing at least 11 persons.

Families who could not flee should raise white flags to mark their location in the city 50 km west of Baghdad, the army's media unit said in a statement.

An Iraqi army helicopter crashed on Wednesday due to "hostile fire" west of Baghdad where security forces were fighting Islamic State militants, who claimed responsibility for downing it.

A senior Iraqi official has appealed to the US-led coalition to air-drop food and medicine to tens of thousands of civilians trapped in Falluja.