IS conflict: Iraqi forces 'retake most' of Falluja

Iraqi forces pushed into central Falluja early on Friday after capturing southern and eastern areas  (Image: Reuters)

Iraqi government forces have retaken most of the city of Falluja from so-called Islamic State fighters who have held it since 2014, officials say.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said there was "still some fighting to be done" as IS still controls a significant part of the city.

But Iraq's prime minister hailed the day's events as a "liberation".

A senior army spokesperson said he expects IS to "suffer a total breakdown during the next hours".

"The enemy is collapsing. They have lost control of their fighters. They are on the run now," Lt Gen Abdul Ameer al-Shammari said.

Special forces commander Brig Haider al-Obedi told AP that his troops controlled 80% of the city.

Falluja, only 50km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, has been held by IS for longer than any other city in Iraq or Syria.

They captured it in January 2014.

Iraqi forces said on Friday that they had retaken Falluja's main government compound as well as southern and eastern areas.

They were backed by air strikes from the US-led coalition.

Lt Gen Abdul Ameer al-Shammari was among those who went into Falluja on Friday  (Image: Reuters)

Military commanders said they had faced little resistance from IS
(Image: Reuters)

A statement said the Iraqi flag was raised above the city council building after its capture by Counter Terrorism Force troops, police and soldiers.

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, said only small numbers of militants remained. Speaking on state TV, he said: "We promised to liberate Falluja, and we took it back. Our brave forces went into Falluja and took control of the city centre.

"There are still some pockets that need to be cleared in the next few hours".

"I directed all the government institutions to mobilise all efforts to help civilians and provide humanitarian aid to them."

Mr al-Abadi tweeted that the city had "returned to the nation" and Daesh (another name for Islamic State) would be defeated.

He also said Mosul was "the next battle". The northern city has been under IS control since 2014 and the Iraqi army launched an operation in March aiming to retake it.

Iraq recaptured the central city of Ramadi from IS in December 2015.

IS overran Falluja, a predominantly Sunni Arab area, in January 2014 - six months before it seized control of large parts of northern and western Iraq.

Government forces launched the offensive to take back Falluja almost four weeks ago, after besieging the city and its suburbs for several months.