Iraqi Troops Enter Fallujah; Claim Victory Over ISIS

Iraqi government forces entered the city of Fallujah on Friday, officially re-taking the first city that fell to the Islamic State. The campaign to re-take the city lasted some four weeks and was backed by the US-led coalition which provided air support during the siege. Despite the declarations of victory by the Iraqis – including from the prime minister – a significant number of ISIS fighters remain in areas of Fallujah and neighborhoods are booby-trapped with explosives. Prime Minister Al-Abadi’s statement was more generous than comments by US Defense Secretary Ash Carter who said the Iraqis took back a portion of the city and that “there is still some fighting to be done.” Al-Abadi declared victory but noted there were “still some pockets that need to be cleansed in the coming hours.”