Iraq Forces Gain Ground from ISIL West of Fallujah

Iraqi forces gained new ground from the ISIL group Saturday in a key area west of the terrorist bastion of Fallujah, security sources said.

Fighters from the army, the police and from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) entered the centre of Saqlawiya.

The town lies around 10 kilometers (six miles) northwest of Fallujah and control of the rural area around it is key to cutting off the city which Iraqi forces are trying to retake.

“The Iraqi army’s 14th division and PMF stormed the centre of Saqlawiya town from the highway and raised the Iraqi flag,” a statement from the Joint Operations Command said.

Federal police moving from a different direction were also involved in the operation to retake Saqlawiya.