Iraqi mortar attacks leave 11 dead in Fallujah

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region— Medical sources in the besieged city of Fallujah said Monday that 11 civilians were killed and seven others were wounded when Iraqi Army units shelled parts of the city in a bid to target Islamic State (ISIS) positions.

“They indiscriminately bombed the city with mortars and medium range missiles,” said Ahmad Shami a medical official in Fallujah.

Iraqi forces have tried to push back the jihadist militants from the Sunni stronghold of Fallujah since June last year when ISIS seized the city and overpowered army troops.

Falluja, 70 km west of Baghdad, has been at the center of Sunni insurgency since 2003. Fierce street clashes took place in the city in an all out US- Iraqi offensive in late 2004 against the insurgents who accused the Iraqi army of being sectarian.

Some local tribes have taken up arms against ISIS in Fallujah and Ramadi but they complain of lack arms and support from Baghdad.

Iraqi government has vowed to recapture the areas and give more executive powers to the local administrations in Iraq’s 19 provinces in a reconciliatory gesture under Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to win the Kurdish and Sunni support in the war against ISIS.