US refutes Iraqi claims of victory in Fallujah
Iraqi forces control one-third of the key city of Fallujah, according to the US Government, despite Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi only days ago claiming victory by forces loyal to his UN-backed government. A US Defense Department spokesman, however, argued that the forces had only cleared part of the city of ISIS militants and the “rest of the city remains contested.” Fallujah has been an ISIS stronghold since 2014, and retaking the city was not expected to be straightforward.

Washington says rest of city is still being fought over four days after Baghdad claimed control of Sunni city from ISIL.

Iraqi forces are so far in control of one-third of the city of Fallujah, the US government has said four days after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the city liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) group.

“Approximately one-third of the city of Fallujah has been cleared by Iraqi-led ground forces,” US Defence Department spokesman Matthew Allen said on Tuesday.

“The rest of the city remains contested and we will continue to support the government of Iraq in eliminating ISIL from Fallujah,” Allen added, saying the battle “has been and will continue to be a difficult fight”.

Abadi had announced that Fallujah, a long-standing stronghold of ISIL – some 50km west of Baghdad, was freed after government forces recaptured the government compound in the city centre.

The progress by government forces in the Fallujah comes months after they recaptured Ramadi, the other major city in the Sunni-dominated Anbar province.

The Iraqi army declared Ramadi liberated in late December, but fighting continued for weeks in some districts.

Also Read: Fallujah civilians: ‘Militias take turns to torture us’

The government offensive that began on May 23 has displaced more than 60,000 people, with most people forced to fend for themselves.

“They have been eating rotten dates and animal feed – and drinking from the river, which is undrinkable.” Karl Schembri, of the Norwegian Refugee Council, earlier told Al Jazeera, explaining that the city was already enduring difficult humanitarian conditions.

Upwards of 3.4 million Iraqis have been displaced since January 2014, according to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.