ERBIL, Kurdistan Region- Leaders of the Shiite militia known as Hashd al-Shaabi who are supporting Iraqi troops say they are in no hurry to reach Fallujah town center due to concern for civilian lives, said a spokesperson for the group. “We have advanced towards the city and our plan is going well,” Yousif Al-Kaabi, the military spokesperson of Hashd al Shaabi told reporters. Al-Kaabi said that the battle for Fallujah that was launched on Sunday is considered the most important fight of the Iraqi security forces against the Islamic State (ISIS), adding that his Shiite militia are only playing a supporting role. “Two things are not major for us, first: the time-frame of the operation. Second: a quick advance into the city.” Al-Kaabi said. “The Fallujah operation means saving the civilians who are stranded under ISIS control.” Iraqi dense officials urged the residents of the Sunni city to evacuate ahead of the major offensive and soldiers on the ground have told Rudaw that close to a hundred families have fled so far through safe corridors. Many families however are still believed to be trapped inside the city, either prevented by ISIS militants from leaving or held as human shield. “ISIS has blocked all the ways in front of the families and they are being used as human shields,” Al-Kaabi added. Iraqi troops backed by the Shiite militia and coalition air support launched a long-anticipated offensive against Falluja two years after it was captured by ISIS. Qasm Araji, a member of Iraq’s Parliamentary security and defense committee told Rudaw on Wednesday that 16 areas on the outskirts of Fallujah have so far been cleared of ISIS militants and troops were nearing the city’s eastern gate. Fallujah fell to ISIS militants in January 2014, months before the group captured Mosul and other Sunni areas in a blitzkrieg.
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