Security forces fight IS terrorists in Iraq

Iraqi security forces on Tuesday continued clashes with the Islamic State (IS) terrorists around the IS stronghold in the city of Fallujah and other areas in Anbar province.

The troops freed two villages from IS group in the country's northern province of Nineveh, Xinhua quoted security sources and a police chief as saying.

In Iraq's western province of Anbar, the federal police and allied Shia and Sunni Hashd Shaabi units carried out an operation to clear the areas adjacent to Euphrates River in south of the IS-held city of Fallujah, some 50 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Lieutenant General Raid Shakir Jawdat said.

The troops managed to free a small dam on a branch of Euphrates River located some five kilometre south of Fallujah, in addition to clearing the areas adjacent to the river in south of the city, Jawdat said without giving details about casualties among both sides.

The clearing operation came as the security forces have been battling IS terrorists after they made their first advance on Wednesday in the district and raised the Iraqi flag over some of its buildings, the source said.

The advance in southern Fallujah was slowed by IS terrorists resistance inside the city, with hundreds of hidden bombs believed to be planted by them.

The security forces are also avoiding heavy casualties among tens of thousands of civilians who are reportedly trapped inside Fallujah.