ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--Military operations against remaining Islamic State (ISIS) militants in the liberated town of Fallujah are ongoing and late on Saturday three secret ISIS jails were broken up and a main hospital was recaptured in the embattled town.
According to a statement issued by Iraqi Terror Combat Forces, three secret prisons were found by the forces and a main hospital in downtown Fallujah was seized. The hospital was, however, destroyed after ISIS set it on fire upon their retreat from the area.
During the operation to take the hospital, Iraqi soldiers entered the building slowly, fearing that the militants would use patients as human shields, Brig. Gen. Haider al-Obeidi told the Associated Press, adding that they did not find any patients inside.
Retaking Fallujah is the final step to wiping out ISIS' foothold in Anbar province.
Over the past year, Iraqi forces backed by US-led airstrikes have, city by city, regained large parts of the country. But the biggest prize, Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, and surrounding territory in the north, remains under Islamic State control.
Friday evening, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi spoke on national TV from the joint command center, congratulating the troops on their victories.
"We promised to liberate Fallujah, and it has returned to the embrace of the nation," he said.
ISIS took over the city in early 2014. It was the first area to fall into its hands before the militants overran most of Anbar and much of northern Iraq.
According to a statement issued by Iraqi Terror Combat Forces, three secret prisons were found by the forces and a main hospital in downtown Fallujah was seized. The hospital was, however, destroyed after ISIS set it on fire upon their retreat from the area.
During the operation to take the hospital, Iraqi soldiers entered the building slowly, fearing that the militants would use patients as human shields, Brig. Gen. Haider al-Obeidi told the Associated Press, adding that they did not find any patients inside.
Retaking Fallujah is the final step to wiping out ISIS' foothold in Anbar province.
Over the past year, Iraqi forces backed by US-led airstrikes have, city by city, regained large parts of the country. But the biggest prize, Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, and surrounding territory in the north, remains under Islamic State control.
Friday evening, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi spoke on national TV from the joint command center, congratulating the troops on their victories.
"We promised to liberate Fallujah, and it has returned to the embrace of the nation," he said.
ISIS took over the city in early 2014. It was the first area to fall into its hands before the militants overran most of Anbar and much of northern Iraq.
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