Iraqi Forces Defeat ’ISIL’, Recapture Dhuluiya

Local Editor

Iraqi forces on Tuesday completed the recapture of the town of Dhuluiyah, parts of which had been held by the "ISIL" for months, commanders said.

"ISIL", which declared a "caliphate" over territory it seized in Iraq and Syria, seized the second city of Mosul and swept through the country's heartland in June in matter of days.

Since then, Iraqi forces have been trying to halt the advance of the militants and taking back territories captured.

The Iraqi army and allied forces pushed into Dhuluiyah, located 90 kilometers outside Baghdad, from the north two days earlier, fighting their way south, and seized the airport just outside the town.

"Forces from the army, police, pro-government groups, and tribes succeeded today in regaining control of Dhuluiyah," an army major general said.
The officer said that 50 military vehicles advanced from the north and linked up with allied forces in the town's southern Jubur area, which resisted repeated assault by "ISIL".

This "means the complete liberation of Dhuluiyah and the end of "ISIL" presence," he added.

A leader in the Badr pro-government fighters group, which took part in the operation, confirmed the "complete liberation of Dhuluiyah."
"We succeeded in breaking the blockade which was imposed by "ISIL" on the Jubur tribe," the commander said.

People fired in the air and honked car horns in celebration, according to a policeman in the town, which is strategically located on roads linking the eastern province of Diyala to Salaheddin province in the north.

Since Sunday government forces backed by tribesmen and pro-government fighters have been clearing bombs and other explosives placed by the extremists in various parts of the town.

Iraqi forces launched their latest offensive on Friday, attacking "ISIL"positions on several fronts and capturing a string of villages south of Dhuluiyah.

In October, Iraqi forces retook from "ISIL"most of Dhuluiyah, but the militants later launched a counter-offensive and seized ground they had lost.

In November, the army retook the strategic town of Baiji and its refinery from "ISIL".

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team