Iraq's security forces Friday entered the center of Fallujah, the Iraqi city longest held by Daesh (ISIL), nearly four weeks after the start of an offensive that cleared out the tens of thousands of residents still there. Iraqi troops, recaptured the municipal building, though the terrorists still controlled a significant portion of Fallujah, an hour's drive west of Baghdad, and many streets and houses remain mined with explosives. Federal police raised the Iraqi state flag above the government building and continued pursuing terrorists, according to a military statement. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory shortly after nightfall, as government forces continued pushing into parts of the city held by the terrorists. Security forces have "tightened their control inside the city and there are still some pockets that need to be cleansed in the coming hours," he said in a brief speech on state television, according to Reuters. Troops could be seen coming under sniper fire earlier in the day as they entered a large mosque about 100 meters from the municipal building. Clashes also involved gunfire, artillery and aerial bombardment, sending clouds of smoke toward the sky above the city center. Heavily armed Interior Ministry police units were advancing along Baghdad Street, the main east-west road running through the city, and commandos from the Counter-Terrorism Service had surrounded Fallujah hospital, the military statement said. Sabah al-Numani, a CTS spokesman, said on state television that snipers were holed up inside the main hospital. Iraq launched a major operation on May 23 to retake Fallujah. Fallujah was seen as a launch pad for recent Daesh bombings in Baghdad, making the offensive a crucial part of the government's campaign to improve security in the capital. Witnesses said Daesh had announced via loudspeakers that residents could leave if they wanted. It was unclear why the group changed tack after clamping down on civilian movement only a few days ago. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which has been providing aid to displaced people, said escapees reported a sudden retreat of Daesh fighters at key checkpoints inside Fallujah that had allowed civilians to leave. Daesh, which by US estimates has been ousted from almost half of the territory it seized when Iraqi forces partially collapsed in 2014, has used residents as human shields to slow the military's advance and help avoid airstrikes. Addressing Fallujah's residents, Iraq Prime Minister Abadi said in his speech: "We want there to be security and peace in this city for you to go back to live there."
